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A HISTORY 



OF 



ENGLAN 



FROM THE 



Imxwion of Julius (Hcescu* to tl)e present <£\\m. 

WITH NUMEROUS QUESTIONS. _ 



DFMGNED FOK THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. 

*— 



BY CALEB PEIRCE, 



w- 



PHILADELPHIA : 

THOMAS L. BONSAL, 33^ MARKET STREET. 

1843. 



t-m t i tt nejm-grri 



7 




Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by 

. Thomas L. Bonsal, 

in the Clerk's ^rnce of the District Court of the Eastern District of 
# Pennsylvania. 



m 



STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON. 



PREFACE. 



The history of our own country, of Eng- 
land, Rome, and of Greece, should form an 
important part of the education of American 
youth. 

The present little work upon England 
has heen prepared with much care and la- 
bour, for the purpose of supplying a defi- 
ciency, relative to order and arrangement, in 
the larger histories of that country. Parti- 
cular attention has been paid to chronology, 
which forms a prominent feature in this 
volume. The Appendix will be found a 
valuable and convenient manual of reference. 

This book is intended, not only for the 
use of schools, but for the private family 
circle. The author submits it to the notice 
of parents, teachers, and others interested in 
the cause of intellectual improvement, and 
hopes it may be found worthy of their ap- 
probation. 



TABLE OF SOVEREIGNS. 



Beginning 
of reign. 
AD. 

43 
51 
59 



449 
455 
508 
547 



327 

838 

857 

866 

872 

900 

925 

941 

948 

958 

962 

975 

979 

1016 

1017 

1036 

1039 

1041 

1065 

1065 

1087 



Chiefs or Frinces. 

1. Cassivelaunus, 

2. Caractacus, 

3. Boadieea, ------- 

The next 390 years, Britain was governed by 

the Romans. 

4. Vortigern, - - 

5. Hengist. He was a Saxon. - - - - 

6. Arthur, ------- 

The Saxon heptarchy was formed, and ended 



End of 
reign. 



9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16, 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 



Kings and Queens. 
Egbert, -----„- 
Ethelwolf, 

4. Etherbald and Ethelbertjointly, } All sons 
Ethelred, i of 

Alfred the Great and Good, J Ethelwolf 

Edward the Elder, 

Athelstan, ------ 

Edmund, ------- 

Edred, ------ 

Edwy, - - 

Edgar, ------- 

Edward the Martyr, 

Ethelred, ------ 

Edmund, ------- 

Canute, ------- 

Harold Harefoot, - 

Hardicanute, ------ 

Edward the Confessor. - 
Harold. Here ends the Anglo-Saxon reign. 
William the Conqueror. First of the Normans. 
William II., (surnamed Rufus or Red,) 



Beginn 
of reig 
A. D. 

1100 


ing 
n. 

23. 


1135 


24. 


1154 


25. 


1189 


26. 


1199 


27. 


1216 


28. 


1272 


29. 


1307 


30. 


1327 


31. 


1377 


32. 


1399 


33. 


1413 


34. 


1422 


35. 


1461 


36. 


1483 


37. 


1483 


38. 


1485 


39. 


1509 


40. 


1547 


41. 


1553 


42. 


1558 


43. 


1603 


44. 


1625 


45. 


1648 




1660 


46. 


1685 


47. 


1688 


48. 


1702 


49. 


1714 


50. 


1727 


51. 


1760 


52. 


1820 


53. 


1830 


54. 


1837 


55. 



TABLE OF SOVEREIGNS. 



Henry I., 

Stephen. The house of Blois. 

Henry II. The first of the Plantagenets. - 

Richard I., - 

John, 

Henry III., - 

Edward I., 

Edward II., ------ 

Edward III., 

Richard II., 

Henry IV. The first of the houses of Lan- 
caster and York. - - - - - 
Henry V., ------- 

Henry VI., 

Edward IV., 

Edward V., 

Richard III., - - - - 

Henry VII. The first of the house of Tudor. 

Henry VIII., 

Edward VI., 

Mary, 

Elizabeth, ______ 

James I. The first of the house of Stuart. 

Charles Stuart I., - 

Commonwealth, ------ 

Charles II., ------ 

James II., ------- 

William and Mary, 

Anne, ------- 

George I. The first of the house of Brunswick 
George II., ------ 

George 111., _-_-._ 

George IV., ------ 

William IV., - 

Victoria., ------ 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 



CHAPTER I. 

All ancient writers agree in representing 
the first inhabitants of Britain as originally 
from Gaul. Their language, manners, su- 
perstitions, and modes of government were 
similar to those of the Gauls ; varied, however, 
by the progressive changes which the lapse 
of time may be expected to produce. 

The Britons were divided into many small 
nations, or tribes ; and being a military peo- 
ple, whose sole property was their arms and 
their cattle, it was impossible, after they had 
acquired a relish for liberty, for their princes 
or chieftains to establish despotic authority 
over them. 

Their governments, though monarchical, 
were free, as well as those of the Celtic na- 
tions ; and the common people seem to have 
enjoyed more liberty than even the ancient 
Gauls, from whom they were descended. 

Each state was divided into factions, and 
was agitated with jealousy or animosity 
agairist the neighbouring states ; and while 
the arts of peace were yet unknown, wars 
were the chief occupation, and formed the 
chief object of ambition among the people. 

The religion of the Britons was one of the 



8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

most considerable parts of their governments ; 
and the Druids, who were their priests, pos- 
sessed great authority among them. 

Besides ministering at the altar, and direct- 
ing all religious duties, the Druids presided 
over the education of youth ; they enjoyed an 
immunity from wars and taxes; they possess- 
ed both the civil and the criminal jurisdic- 
tion; and they decided all controversies, 
among states as well as among private persons. 
Whoever refused to submit to their decree 
was exposed to the most severe penalties. 
The sentence of excommunication was pro- 
nounced against him ; he was forbidden access 
to the sacrifices or public worship ; he was 
debarred all intercourse with his fellow-citi- 
zens, even in the common affairs of life. 
His company was universally shunned as pro- 
fane and dangerous. He was refused the 
protection of law ; and death itself became 
an acceptable relief from the misery and in- 
famy to which he was exposed. 

Besides the severe penalties which it was 
in the power of the Druids to inflict in this 
world, they inculcated the doctrine of the 
eternal transmigration of souls ; and thereby 
extended their authority as far as the fears 
of their timorous votaries. They practised 
their rites in dark groves, and they commu- 
nicated their doctrines only to the initiated. 
They forbade the committing of these to 
writing, lest at any time they should be ex- 
posed to the examination of the profane vulgar. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 9 

. No idolatrous worship ever attained such 
an ascendancy over its votaries as that of the 
ancient Gauls and Britons ; and after their 
subjugation by the Romans, it was found im- 
possible to reconcile them to the laws and 
institutions of their new masters, while their 
religious system maintained its authority; 
and the Romans were obliged to abolish it by 
penal statutes, a violence which had never 
before been perpetrated by those tolerant 
conquerors. 

Questions. 

1. What do all ancient writers say about the first peo- 
pling of Britain ? 

2. Wherein were they like the people of the neigh- 
bouring continent ? 

3. How were the Britons divided ? 

4. What kind of a people were they ? 

5. AVhat did their property consist in ? 

6. Why was it impossible for their princes to establish 
despotic authority over them? 

7. What were their forms of government ? 

8. What did the common people enjoy more than the 
Gauls, from whom they descended 1 

9. How was each state divided ? 

10. By what was each state agitated ? 

1 1. Against whom was that animosity ? 

12. What important thing was unknown by the Bri- 
tons? 

13. What was their chief occupation ? 

14. What formed the chief object of ambition among 
them ? 

15. What was a considerable part of their govern- 
ment ? 

10. Who possessed great authority among them? 
17. What authority did the Druids possess? 



10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

18. What was done to those who refused to submit to 
their decrees ? 

19. What was the nature of those penalties ? 

20. Where did they practise their rites ? 

21. To whom they communicate their doctrines ? 

22. Why did they forbid the writing of their doctrines ? 

23. What was it that had an ascendancy over the 
minds of the ancient Britons ? 

24. Why did the Romans abolish, by penal statutes, 
the religion of the Druids ? 

25. Had the Romans ever before committed such 
violence ? 



CHAPTER II. 

The Britons had long remained in a rude 
but independent state, when Caesar, having 
victoriously overrun all Gaul, invaded their 
island. He landed at Deal, and having ob- 
tained several victories over the natives, they 
submitted to him. The descendants of the 
early Britons are found, at this day, in Ire- 
land, Wales, and the highlands of Scotland ; 
some of whom still speak the Celtic lan- 
guage. 

The ancient Britons wore the skins of 
wild beasts, while others were entirely 
naked, and painted their persons like our In- 
dians. Their weapons were clubs, spears, 
and swords. 

A. D. 43. Cassivelaunus is the first British 
prince spoken of in history. 

A. D. 51. Caractacus, the second prince 
or king, was very brave. He fought the 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 11 

Romans with much success, but finally he 
was taken prisoner in battle, and carried to 
Rome. 

A. D. 59. Boadicea, Queen of the Iceni, 
w r ho had been treated in the most ignomi- 
nious manner by the Roman tribunes, suc- 
cessfully attacked the settlements of her foes. 
Suetonius, the Roman general, hastened to 
the protection of London, which was already 
a flourishing Roman colony : but afterwards 
finding it necessary to abandon it, the city 
was reduced to ashes. The inhabitants who 
had remained in it, with the Romans and 
strangers, to the number of 70,000, were 
put to death. This cruelty was soon after re- 
venged by Suetonius, in a great and deci- 
sive battle ; w 7 here 80,000 "of the Britons 
were slain. The queen, rather than fall 
into the hands of the Romans, committed 
suicide. 

The general who finally established the 
dominion of the Romans on this island, was 
Julius Agricola. He introduced the arts of 
peace. He taught the natives to desire and 
to raise all the conveniences of life. He 
reconciled them to the Roman language and 
manners, and instructed them in letters and 
in science, and employed every expedient 
to render them satisfied with their new con- 
dition. 

This was the last conquest made by the 
Romans ; and Britain, once subdued, gave no 
farther inquietude to them. 



12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

The Romans built a wall from the river 
Tyne to the Frith of Solway. 

After many years, the Romans, owing to 
their weakness' at home, were obliged to 
withdraw their troops from Britain. Having 
assisted the inhabitants in erecting anew 
the wall from the Tyne to the Frith of Sol- 
way, which was built of stone, about the 
year 448 they bade a final adieu to them. 
They had been masters of most of the island 
during four centuries. 

Questions, 

1. What was the condition of the Britons before they 
were conquered by the Romans? 

2. Where did the Romans first land in Britain? 

3. Where are the descendants of the early Britons 
now found ? 

4. What language do some of these still speak? 

5. How did the ancient Britons dress ? 

6. What were their weapons ? 

7. Who was the first prince of Britain ? 

8. At what period did he reign ? 

9. Who was the second prince of Britain ? 

10. What was he noted for? 

11. How was he taken by the Romans? 

12. To what city was he carried ? 

13. During what period did he reign? 

14. Who was the first princess of Britain ? 

15. How had she been treated by the Roman tribunes ? 
If). What place attacked by her, did the Roman gene- 
ral hasten to protect ? 

17. What was London at that time ? 

18. What did the Roman general find it necessary 
to do ? 

19. What was the fate of London ? 

20. What became of the inhabitants of London? 

21. How did the Roman general retaliate ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 13 

22. How did the queen evade capture ? 

23. AVho finally established the Roman power in 
Britain ? 

24. What was the conduct of Julius Agricola? 

25. Had his kind offices the desired effect ? 

26. Why did the Romans withdraw their troops from 
Britain ? 

27. What was their last act of kindness to the Bri- 
tons ? 

28. When did the Romans bid the Britons a final 
adieu ? 

20. How long- were the Romans masters of most of 
Britain ? 



CHAPTER III. 

After the departure of the Roman sol- 
diers, the Britons, having become unwarlike, 
were unable to resist the Picts and Scots, 
who descended from the northern parts of 
the island and ravaged the country. By the 
advice of Vortigern, prince of Dumnonium, 
who possessed the chief authority among 
them, they sent into Germany a deputation 
to invite the Saxons to come over to assist 
them. 

Accordingly, in the year 450, Hengist and 
Horsa, two brothers of great bravery, em- 
barked from Germany with 1 600 men ; they 
landed 'on the isle of Thanet, and imme- 
diately marched against the Scots and Picts, 
and defeated them. 

From their easy victory over the Picts 
and Scots, the two brothers soon perceived 



14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

how easily they might subdue the feeble 
Britons, who had not been able to repel the 
incursions of such invaders. 

Hengist and Horsa were soon reinforced 
by 5000 more Saxons, who came over in 
seventeen vessels. They now formed an al- 
liance with the Picts and Scots against the 
Britons. 

Many battles were fought ; in one of them, 
Horsa was killed ; and Ilengist became sole 
commander. He spared neither age, sex, 
nor condition ; the private and public edi- 
fices of the Britons were reduced to ashes, 
and their priests were slaughtered before the 
altars. 

Hengist maintained his ground in Britain ; 
and in order to divide the forces and attention 
of the natives, he called over a new tribe of 
Saxons, under the command of his brother 
Octa, and Ebissa, Octa's son. He established 
them in Northumberland, while he remained 
in the more southerly parts of the island, and 
laid the foundation of the kingdom of Kent. 
He fixed his royal seat at Canterbury, where 
he reigned about 40 years, and died in the 
year 488, leaving his newly-acquired domi- 
nions to his posterity. 

The success of Hengist incited other Ger- 
mans, at different times, and under different 
leaders, to go over in large numbers to the 
invasion of Britain. They were chiefly 
Saxons, Angles, and Jutes; but commonly 
passed under the name of Saxons. The 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 15 

Britons were driven into Wales and Corn- 
wall. 

The next Saxon state, founded after that 
of Kent, w r as South Saxony. 

The Saxons, having finally conquered all 
Britain, divided it into petty kingdoms. 
The last of the Saxon conquerors was Ida, 
who, in A. D. 547, entirely subdued the 
country now called Northumberland, and 
assumed the crown, under the title of the 
king of Bernicea. 

About the same time, Aella, another Saxon 
prince, having conquered Lancashire and 
the greater part of Yorkshire, received the 
name of king of Deira. These two kingdoms 
were united under the government of Ethel- 

In A. D. 547, the Saxon heptarchy was 
formed, comprising the seven petty king- 
doms of Kent, Northumberland, East Anglia, 
Mercia, Essex, Wessex, and Sussex, each of 
which was governed by its own prince or 
king. 

During the heptarchy, and while Gregory 
was pontiff of Rome, the Christian religion 
was again introduced into Britain by Augus- 
tine, a monk. 

The Britons had embraced Christianity, 
as early,' probably, as the time of the apos- 
tles ; but the race having been almost en- 
tirely extirpated, the Christian religion had 
shared the same fate. 



16' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Questions. 

1. What was the character of the Britons at the time 
of the departure of the Romans ? 

2. What did they find themselves unable to do ? 

3. Whose advice did they follow ? 

4. Where did they send a deputation, and for what 
purpose ? 

5. What distinguished persons came from Germany 
to their assistance I 

6. In what year did they embark from Germany, and 
how many men did they bring to assist the Britons? 

7. Where did they land, and against whom did they 
march ? 

8. What did they discover, from their easy victory 
over the Picts and Scots ? 

9. By how many men were Hengist and Horsa rein- 
forced ? 

10. How many vessels were employed in bringing 
them over ? 

11. With whom did they form an alliance, and for 
what purpose ? 

12. How did Horsa lose his life ? 

13. Who became sole commander ? 

14. What cruelties did Hengist commit after his bro- 
ther's death ? 

15. Did he maintain his ground ? 

1(3. What did he do to divide the forces and attention 
of the natives ? 

17. Where did he establish his brother Octa, and his 
nephew Ebissa ? 

18. Where did Hengist himself remain ? 

19. What kingdom did he found there ? 

20. Where did he fix his royal seat ? 

21. How long did he reign, and when did he die ? 

22. To whom did he leave his newly-acquired domi- 
nions ? 

23. What did the success of Hengist cause ? 

24. Who were those conquerors chiefly ? 

25. What were they commonly called ? 

26. Where did the Saxons drive the Britons ? 

27. Which was the second Saxon state in Britain ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17 

28. When the Saxons had conquered all Britain, how 
did they divide it ? 

29. Who was the last of the Saxon conquerors ? 

30. At what time was Britain entirely subdued? 

31. Under what title did Ida assume the crown ? 

32. What other prince reigned at the same time ? 

33. Under what title did Aella reign ? 

34. Under whom were these two kingdoms united ? 

35. In what year was the Saxon heptarchy formed ? 
30. Name the seven kingdoms which formed the 

heptarchy. 

37. When was Christianity re-introduced into Britain? 

38. By whom was it re-introduced ? 

39. What pope reigned at that time ? 

40. When had the Britons embraced Christianity? 

41. What had been its fate ? 



CHAPTER IV. 

In A. D. 827, Egbert, king of Wessex, 
having conquered the other kingdoms of the 
heptarchy, became sole monarch of England. 
He had subdued the Britons in Cornwall, 
and also those of Venedosia, which was one 
of the three kingdoms into which Wales 
was divided. After he was crowned king 
of England, (being the first,) he reigried in 
peace until A. D. 833, when his dominions 
were invaded by the Danes, who were de- 
feated and driven out by him. 

Egbert reigned 37 years as king of Wes- 
sex, 7 years as king or chief of the seven 
kingdoms, and 10 years as sole monarch or 



18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

king of England. He died in the year 838, 
and was buried at Winchester. 

In A. D. 838, Ethelwolf, Egbert's only 
surviving son, succeeded his father. 

In the year 840, a body of Danes landed 
on the coast of Wessex. Ethelwolf, although 
he was opposed to fighting, marched against 
them in person; but was unfortunately 
beaten. About this time the Ficts, hitherto 
so formidable to the southern Britons, were, 
after a long war, completely extirpated by 
the Scots. 

Ethelwolf, wearied by the repeated incur- 
sions of the Danes, delivered up Kent, Essex, 
and Sussex, to Athelstan, his natural son, 
with the title of king of Kent, reserving to 
himself the remaining states. 

In A. D. 852, the Danes came up the 
Thames with 300 ships, and pillaged London 
and other places ; but Ethelwolf and Athel- 
stan engaged them near Orkney, in Surrey, 
where the English gained the victory, and 
made such great slaughter of their enemies 
that few escaped. This victory delivered 
Ethelwolf from the fear of the Danes. He 
gave to the church tithes of all his posses- 
sions. In 855 he paid a visit in person to the 
pope, to receive his benediction ; and ex- 
tended the tax of Peter's pence all over his 
dominions. 

He died in the year 857, having reigned 
20 years, and was buried at Winchester. 

He left his crown by will to his second 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 19 

son, Ethelbert ; after him, to his third son, 
Ethelred ; and then to his youngest son, Al- 
fred the Great. 

A. D. 857. Etherbald, his first son, and 
Ethelbert, his second son, jointly succeeded 
their father. Nothing remarkable happened 
during the reign of Etherbald : he died in 
860. The reign of Ethelbert was noted by 
the renewed incursions of the Danes; he 
died in 866. 

In A. D. 866, Ethelred succeeded his bro- 
ther Ethelbert. In his reign the Danes be- 
came masters of Northumberland and East 
Anglia, and resolved to push their conquest 
further, hoping finally to subdue all Eng- 
land. With this view, Ivar, king of Den- 
mark, turned his arms against Wessex ; he 
landed his troops in that county, and ad- 
vanced as far as Reading. In the course of 
one year, Ethelred fought nine pitched bat- 
tles with the Danes, in some of which he 
was victorious ; but in all of which he gave 
signal proofs of courage and conduct. In 
the last battle, he was mortally wounded. 

He died in 872, in the sixth year of his 
reign. He gained the character of a valiant 
and pious prince. 

* Questions. 

1. Who was the first king of England? 

2. At what time did his reign commence ? 
:$. By whom was England invaded ? 

4. Were the Danes successful ? 

5. What did kin^ Egbert do to them ? 



20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

6. How long- did Egbert reign as king of Wessex ? 

7. How long did he reign as king of the heptarchy ? 

8. And how long did he reign as king of England ? 

9. At what time did he die ? 

10. Where was he buried ? 

1 1 . Who succeeded Egbert to the throne of England ? 

12. When did Ethelwolf commence his reign ? 

13. At what time did a body of Danes land on the 
coast of Wessex ? 

14. Was Ethelwolf opposed to fighting ? 

15. Did he fight the Danes ? 

10. Was he successful against the Danes ? 

17. Who extirpated the Picts, that had been so formi- 
dable to the Southern Britons ? 

18. Why did Ethelwolf give part of his kingdom to 
his son Athelstan ? 

19. What title did Athelstan assume ? 

20. In what year did the Danes come up the Thames, 
and pillage London and other places ? 

21. How many ships did they bring up the river 
Thames ? 

22. At what place did Ethelwolf and Athelstan at- 
tack them ? 

23. With what success did they meet ? 

24. What effect had this victory upon Ethelwolf? 

25. What did the king give to the church ? 
2G. In what year did the king visit the pope ? 

27. What tax did he extend over his dominions ? 

28. In what year did Ethelwolf die ? 

29. How long did he reign ? 

30. Where was he buried ? 

31. Who succeeded Ethelwolf? 

32. When did Etherbald and Ethelbert begin reign- 
ing I 

33. In what year did Etherbald die ? 

34. How long did he reign jointly with his brotlier 
Ethelbert ? 

35. What people made incursions on England during 
Ethelbert's reign ? 

36. When did Ethelbert die ? 

37. How lone- did he reign ? 



HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 21 

38. Who succeeded Ethelbert to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

39. In what year did Ethelred commence his reign ? 

40. Of what portion of England did the Danes be- 
come masters ? 

41. What did they then resolve to do ? 

42. With what view did the king of Denmark turn 
his arms against Wessex ? 

43. In Avhat county did Ivar, king of Denmark, land 
his troops ? 

44. How far did he advance with his troops ? 

45. How many pitched battles with the Danes did 
Ethelred fight in one year ? 

4(3. What did he prove himself to be ? 

47. What befell him in the last battle he fought with 
the Danes ? 

48. In what year did he die ? 
40. How long did he reign ? 

50. What character did he acquire during his reign ? 



CHAPTER V. 

Alfred the Great, brother of Ethelred, 
succeeded him to the throne. His virtues 
and distinguished bravery had been shown 
during his brother's lifetime, and now en- 
deared him to his subjects. 

He was crowned in 872, when the Danes 
were in the very heart of his dominions, and 
all the seaports were filled with their ships. 
He marched against them, and committed 
such havoc among them that they promised 
to depart ; but, instead of doing so, they re- 
commenced their depredations in another 
part of the kingdom. Alfred vigorously op- 



22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

posed them; but a strong reinforcement 
having come over to the Danes, the English 
were seized with despondency, and deserted 
their sovereign. Having placed his wife 
and children in the care of some trusty sub- 
jects, Alfred disguised himself and lived 
concealed in the house of a shepherd. Col- 
lecting a few of his followers, he afterwards 
retired to the little island of Athelney, in 
Somersetshire. 

The Danes, having no longer an enemy 
to oppose them, grew negligent. Alfred, in 
the disguise of a musician, boldly entered 
the Danes' camp, and stayed there several 
days ; after which, he returned to his friends, 
secretly assembled his troops, and attacked 
and routed the Danes with terrible slaughter. 
The prisoners were set at liberty, on condi- 
tion of embracing Christianity, which they 
and their leader Guthrum readily did. 

The Danes, under Hastings, made another 
descent upon the coast ; but Alfred, having 
formed a navy, vanquished them. In all his 
wars with the Danes, Alfred fought fifty-six 
battles; w r hen they were finally expelled 
from the kingdom. 

Alfred founded the university of Oxford. 
He was an excellent scholar ; and encouraged 
the fine arts and polite learning. He wrote 
several books for the instruction of his peo- 
ple. He instituted juries, and made many 
good laws. He is justly considered as the 
great founder of the English Constitution. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 23 

During his reign justice was strictly ob- 
served. He was one of the greatest, wisest, 
and most pious princes that have ever lived. 

After a glorious reign of 28 years, he died 
on the 28th of October, A. D.*900. 

In A. D. 900, Edward the Elder succeed- 
ed his father Alfred. Ethelward, his cousin, 
laid claim to the crown, and applied to the 
Danes for assistance, which was granted. 
Edward defeated them ; but the war con- 
tinued 12 years. After two important en- 
gagements, in which the Danes were over- 
thrown, they were expelled out of the 
kingdom. Edward also conquered the 
Welch. He reigned 25 years, and died 
A. D. 925. 

In 925, Athelstan, a natural son of Ed- 
ward, succeeded to the throne. He fought 
many battles with the Danes, and was gene- 
rally successful. He reigned 1 6 years, and 
died A. D. 941. 

In 941, Edmund, Edward's oldest legiti- 
mate son, succeeded his brother Athelstan. 
He met much opposition from the restless 
Northumbrians, who watched every oppor- 
tunity of rebelling ; but by force of arms he 
reduced them to humble submission. In 
order to give him a satisfactory pledge, they 
offered' to embrace Christianity; but Ed- 
mund was not willing to confide in their 
sincerity. He removed, the burgesses from 
the town of Mercia, because they had taken 
advantage of every commotion to introduce 



24 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the Danes into the kingdom. He also con- 
quered Cumberland from the Britons, and 
conferred the kingdom on Malcolm, king of 
Scotland, with a condition that he should do 
him homage, and protect the North from 
future incursions of the Danes. 

One day, as he was solemnizing a festival, 
Leolf, a notorious robber, whom he had sen- 
tenced to banishment, came into the hall. 
Edmund became enraged, and ordered him 
to leave the room. The robber refused. 
Edmund assailed him, and seized him by 
the hair. Leolf drew a dagger, and stabbed 
Edmund, who expired immediately. This 
event occurred in the 8th year of his reign, 
A. D. 94S. 

Questions. 

1 . Who succeeded Ethelred to the throne of England ? 

2. When did the reign of Alfred the Great commence ? 

3. What did he oblige the Danes to promise ? 

4. How did they keep their promise? 

5. Who came over to assist the Danes ? 

0. What effect was produced on the English I 

7. What did Alfred do with his wife and children ? 

8. Whore did he conceal himself in disguise ? 

9. Whither did he afterwards retire ? 

10. When the Danes had no enemy to oppose them, 
what was their conduct ? 

11. How did Alfred enter the Danes' camp, and how 
long did he stay ? 

12. What did Alfred do after his return to his friends ? 

13. Was he successful in his attack on the Danes? 

14. What did he do with the Danish prisoners ? 

15. Were they willing to embrace Christianity, to 
obtain their freedom ? 

16. What did he do by increasing his navy ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 25 

17. What did king- Alfred encourage ? 

18. What kind of laws did he make ? 

19. What did he institute? 

20. What did he establish ? 

21. What was strictly observed during his reign? 

22. How many battles did he fight with the Danes ? 

23. What university did he found ? 

24. What kind of a scholar was king Alfred ? 

25. What was the character of his writings? 
2(). What was his general character? 

27. When did he die? 

28. How long did he reign ? 

29. Who succeeded Alfred to the throne of England ? 

30. When did Edward the Elder commence his reign ? 

31. Who contested his right to the throne? 

32. To whom did Ethelward apply for assistance ? 

33. Which party was victorious ? 

34. How long did this war continue? 

35. What became of the Danes after Edward defeated 
them? 

36. What other people did he conquer ? 

37. How long did he reign ? 

38. In what year did he die ? 

39. Who succeeded Edward to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

40. What happened during Athelstan's reign ? 

41. When did his reign commence ? 

42. How long did he reign? 

43. In what year did he die ? 

44. Who succeeded Athelstan to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

45. When did his reign commence? 

46. What people disturbed the peace of his reign? 

47. What did he effect by force of arms ? 

48. What did they offer as a pledge of their fidelity? 

49. Whjom did he remove from office ? 

50. Why were they removed ? 

51. What kingdom did he conquer? 

52. On whom did he confer it? 

53. On what condition did he confer it on the king 
of Scotland? 



26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

54. What happened while he was solemnizing a fes- 
tival ? 

55. In what year was he killed ? 

56. How long did he reign ? 



CHAPTER VT 

In A. D. 948, Edred succeeded his bro- 
ther. The Danes, according to their custom 
on the accession of a new king, made incur- 
sions into the country, and gained over to 
their side Malcolm, king of Scotland. But 
Edred compelled them to sue for peace, and 
reduced them to absolute submission. He 
was now absolute sovereign of all England. 
He turned his thoughts wholly to religion, 
and rebuilt several churches and monasteries. 
Edred reigned 10 years, and died in the 
year 958. 

In 958, Edwy, son of Edmund, succeeded 
his uncle. He immediately commanded 
Dunstan, the treasurer to the late king, to 
give an account of the moneys intrusted to 
him. The monk refused to obey, alleging 
that the money had been spent for pious pur- 
poses. The monks were thereupon turned 
out of the benefices they had invaded, and 
the secular priests restored. The monks 
vented the most bitter invectives. Dunstan 
was banished. The monks now tried to put 
down the government of the young king, 
and represented him as the most impious of 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 27 

men. They excited an insurrection ; and 
Edgar, the king's brother, headed the revolt- 
ers, and took a large proportion of his king- 
dom from him. Mortified at the result of 
the contest, Edwy fell into a deep melan- 
choly, which put an end to his life. He 
reigned 4 years, and died A. D. 962. 

In 962, Edgar succeeded his brother Ed- 
wy, at sixteen years of age. He recalled 
Duns tan, and made him Archbishop of Can- 
terbury. The secular priests were expelled 
from the monasteries. He restored and freely 
patronised the monks, and by this means pre- 
served the peace of the kingdom. His reign 
was one continued calm, without wars or com- 
motions. His preparations for war, both by sea 
and land, were so extensive that none dared 
attack him. It is said that he was rowed 
down the river Dee by eight kings who were 
his vassals, he himself sitting at the helm. 

He extended his liberality to men of learn- 
ing and genius. His court was hospitable 
and magnificent, and well attended by fo- 
reigners, who were charmed with his ele- 
gance and politeness. From the tranquillity 
of his reign, he acquired the name of Edgar 
the Pacific. He died in the 13th year of his 
reign, A. D. 975. 

Edward the Martyr succeeded his father 
Edgar, in 975. He was the son of Edgar's 
first wife, and the throne was willed to him 
by his father ; but Edgar's second wife was 
still living, and she wished her son placed 



28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

upon the throne; but the monks and the 
people declared in favour of Edward. After 
le had reigned little more than three years, 
le came to a tragical end. On returning 
from a hunt, he stopped to see his stepmo- 
ther, and was stabbed in the back while 
drinking, by a villain, at her direction. He 
died immediately. He reigned about 3 
years, and died A. D. 979. 

Questions. 

1 . Who succeeded Edmund to the throne of England ? 

2. When did Edred commence his reign ? 

3. Who made incursions into the country ? 

4. What king did the Danes gain to their side ? 

5. What did king Edred compel them to do ? 
(>. To what did he reduce them ? 

7. To what did he wholly turn his thoughts ? 

8. What did he rebuild ? 

9. How long did he reign ? 

10. When did he die ? 

11. Who succeeded Edred to the throne of England? 

12. When did Edwy commence his reign ? 

13. What did he command the treasurer to do ? 
11. Did the treasurer obey ? 

15. What excuse did he give for not complying ? 

16. What did the king do to the monks ? 

17. Whom did the king restore ? 

18. What was done with Dunstan the treasurer? 

19. What did the monks try to do to the young king? 

20. What did they excite, and what did they repre- 
sent him to be ? 

21. What did they take from the king? 

22. Into Avhat did the king fall ? 

23. What put an end to his life ? 

24. How long did he reign, and when did he die ? 

25. Who succeeded Edwy to the throne of England ? 

26. When did Edgar begin his reign ? 

27. For what was his reign remarkable ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 29 

28. To what was this general peace owing ? 

29. Whom did he recall, and what did he make him? 

30. Who were expelled from the monasteries ? 

31. Who were restored? 

32. To whom did the king extend his liberality? 

33. What was the character of his court ? 

34. By whom was it filled, and what pleased the 
visitors ? 

35. What name did he acquire during his reign ? 
30. How long did he reign ? 

37. In what year did he die ? 

38. Who succeeded Edgar ? 

39. When did Edward the Martyr commence his 
reign ! 

40. Was there any opposition to Edward's succeeding 
his father ? 

41. By whom was the opposition raised ? 

42. In whose favour did the people declare ? 

43. To what tragical end did he come ? 

44. How long did he reign ? 

45. In what year was he killed ? 



CHAPTER VII. . 

Ethelred, half-brother to Edward, suc- 
ceeded him in the year 979, at the age of 
1 2 years. In 98 1 , the Danes returned, and for 
10 years there were continued plunderings, 
conflagrations, murders, and other crimes. 
During this time the credit of the monks 
declined ; the people began to wonder that 
those who pretended to work miracles, could 
not, by their prayers, prevent the calamities 
of the nation ; and the king himself showed 
them no manner of respect. 

ii i i m i . , i i ii . ii ,. ■ , !««■=—— i . i . i i h i ■ — ■ ii i i — ^— ■gawp— memmm 

3* 



30 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Ethelred was mean-spirited. He pur- 
chased peace of the Danes five times. On 
one occasion, he paid them §£30,000, which 
was raised by means of a tax, and was called 
Danegelt, or Dane gold. This was the first 
tax levied in England. 

The Danes lived at their ease, and com- 
pelled the English to labour for them. The 
natives called them Lord Danes. They, 
however, became so enraged at the exactions 
of their oppressors, that, by Ethelred's orders, 
they fell suddenly upon them, and in one 
day massacred them all. In revenge, Sweyn, 
king of Denmark, equipped 300 ships and 
landed a powerful army in Cornwall: he 
inarched to Exeter, put the people to the 
sword, and burned the town. He entirely 
defeated Ethelred. 

In A. D. 1005, there was a famine in 
England. 

In 1013, the Danes having made them- 
selves masters of the whole kingdom, Ethel- 
red went to Normandy with his family : and 
Sweyn, being proclaimed king of England 
without any opposition, laid a very heavy 
tax on the nation to pay the Danish troops. 
He died suddenly in 1014. Upon the death 
of Sweyn, the Danes proclaimed his son 
Canute king of England. Canute went to 
Denmark, to assert his right to that crown ; 
and Ethelred returned to England, and 
raised a numerous army, and governed as 
badly as before. Canute, having settled 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 31 

things in Denmark, returned to England in 
about a year, and landed a numerous army, 
when the people declared in his favour. 
Ethelred died in 1016, in the 50th year of 
his age, after a most inglorious reign of 37 
years. 

In 1016. Edmund (surnamed Ironsides) 
succeeded his father. The lords proclaimed 
him king of England, while the Danes sup- 
orted the claims of Canute. Canute be- 
sieged London three times without success. 
A great battle was fought, in which both kings 
eminently displayed their courage and con- 
duct. The English were in danger of being 
defeated by a stratagem of Edric, who cut 
off the head of a soldier who resembled Ed- 
mund, held it upon the top of his lance in 
sight of the English, and cried, " Fly, fly, you 
scoundrels ! behold the head of your king, in 
whom you trust!" but just at this time 
Edmund showed himself among the sol- 
diers. One of Edmund's commanders went 
over to the Danes with ajl the forces he 
commanded, which put the English into 
such consternation that they laid down their 
arms and fled. A peace was soon after con- 
cluded at the request of the people, and the 
kingdom was divided into two parts, Nor- 
thern and Southern. Canute took the former 
and Edmund the latter : but Edmund was 
assassinated, by order of his brother-in-law 
Edric, in 1017. With Edmund, the Saxon 
monarchy in England ended, having lasted 



- J ' » — — ■ ■ ■ ■■» 



32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

1 90 years from Egbert's establishment, 432 
from the founding of the heptarchy, and568 
from the arrival of Hengist. 
Questions, 

1. Who succeeded Edward the martyr ? 

2. When did he commence his reign ? 

3. In what year did the Danes return to England ? 

4. How long did they continue their devastations ? 

5. What happened to the monks ? 

6. What was Ethelred's character ? 

7. What did he do to procure peace I 

8. What was the money called which he paid the 
Danes ? 

9. How did the Danes live ? 

10. What did they compel the English to do ? 

11. What did the' English call them? 

12. What effect did the oppression of the Danes have 
upon the people ? 

13. What did they do by Ethelred's order ? 

14. What did the king of Denmark do I 

15. How many ships conveyed his army to England ? 
1(5. Where did this powerful army land ? 

17. Which party was victorious ? 

18. In what year was the famine in England ? 

19. In what year did the Danes become masters of 
England ? 

20. What became of king Elhelred and his family ? 

21. When Sweyn was proclaimed king of England, 
what did he impose upon the nation ? 

22. What was the object of this tax ? 

23. When and how did Sweyn die ? 

24. After Sweyn's death, whom did the Danes pro- 
claim king ? 

25. Where did Canute go after being proclaimed 
king ? 

20. Did king Ethelred return to England during Ca- 
nute's absence ? 

27. How did Ethelred govern after his return ? 

28. When Canute returned, of whom were the peo- 
ple in favour ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 

29. When did Ethelred die ? 

30. How old was he at his death ? 

31. How long did he reign? 

32. Whom did the lords proclaim king ? 

33. Whom did the Danes proclaim king ? 

34. What did Canute and Edmund display ? 

35. What stratagem did Edric practise upon the Eng- 
lish ? 

36. What effect did it produce? 

37. At whose request was a peace concluded ? 

38. How was the kingdom divided ? 

39. Which part fell to the lot of Edmund ? 

40. How long did he afterward live ? 

41. How did he die? 

42. What ended with king Edmund ? 

43. In what year was he assassinated ? 

44. How many years since Egbert began to reign as 
king ? 

45. How many since the founding of the heptarchy ? 
4(5. How many since Hengist arrived in England ? 



CHAPTER VIII. 

In A. D. 1017, on the death of Edmund, 
Canute became sole master of the kingdom, 
and was proclaimed king ; and all the lords, 
both English and Danish, swore allegiance to 
him. He divided England into four parts, 
and appointed dukes or earls over three, 
and one he himself governed. To the end 
that justice might be equally administered, 
he declared that no distinction should be 
made between the English and the Danes. 
He built a splendid church over the grave 
of St. Edmund, who had been killed by the 



jga i un. i . i . 1 »iL i 



34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Danes, and enlarged the town of St. Edmund- 
bury. In 1031, he took a journey to Rome, 
where he made large presents to the church- 
es, and confirmed all that his predecessors 
had done, botli for the church of Rome and 
the English college. One day as he was 
walking by the sea-side, his flatterers highly 
extolled him, and even compared him with 
God himself. To convince them of their 
folly and impiety, he caused a chair to be 
brought to him, and seating himself where 
the tide was about to flow, said to the ocean, 
" O sea, thou art under my jurisdiction, and 
the land where I sit is mine ; I command 
thee to come no farther, nor presume to wet 
thy sovereign's feet." But the tide came 
in, regardless of his commands, and he severe- 
ly rebuked his courtiers. 

Canute died in the 1 9th year of his reign, 
A. D. 1036. He left three sons, and one 
daughter ; Sweyn, king of Norway ; Harold, 
king of England ; Hardieanute, king of Den- 
mark ; and Gunilda, the wife of Henry IV. 

Harold Harefoot succeeded his father in 
1036. His short reign .was distinguished 
by an act of cruelty towards prince Alfred, 
whom, in a friendly manner, he had invited 
to London. On the journey, the king caused 
the attendants of Alfred to be murdered, and 
his eyes to be put out. He also had a law 
passed, by which any Welchman who should 
cross a certain line was exposed to the penal- 
ty of having his right hand cut off. He died 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 35 

April 14th, 1039, in the fourth year of his 
reign, little regretted by his subjects. 

A. D. 1039, Hardicanute succeeded his 
brother Harold. Immediately after he was 
crowned, he caused his brother's body to be 
dug up and thrown into the Thames. He 
laid a tax on the nation to defray the ex- 
penses of the fleet that brought him from 
Denmark to England. The people were 
much dissatisfied with the tax. At Worces- 
ter they refused to pay it, and murdered two 
collectors ; for which the king sent his forces 
against it, and plundered and burned it. 
Hardicanute was a great glutton and wine- 
bibber, and noted for cruelty. After carous- 
ing at the w r eclding of a Danish lord, he died 
very suddenly, unlamented by all, on the 
8th of June, 1041, and the people kept it 
afterwards as a day of rejoicing ; they called 
it hog's-tide. He reigned 3 years. With 
him ended the reign of the Danes in Eng- 
land. It lasted 26 years, but they had ha- 
rassed the kingdom 240 years. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded to the throne, and became sole 
master of the kingdom, after the death of Edmund ? 

2. In what year did he commence his reign? 

3. Who swore allegiance to him? 

4. How did he divide his kingdom? 

5. Who did he appoint over three of those four parts ? 

6. Why was this arrangement made ? 

7. What declaration did he make ? 

8. What did he do in commemoration of king Ed- 
mund ? 



36 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

9. In what year did he visit Rome ? 

10. What did he do at Rome ? 

11. What happened on the sea-shore between the 
king and his flatterers ? 

12. How long- did he reign? 

13. When did he die ? 

14. How many children did he leave ? 

15. Who succeeded Canute? 

16. When did Harold commence his reign ? 

17. For what was his reign distinguished ? • 

18. When did he die ? 

19. How long did'he "reign ? 

20. Did his people respect him? 

21. Who succeeded Harold Harefoot? 

22. When did Hardicanute commence his reign ? 

23. What was done with his brother's dead body ? 

24. For what purpose did he impose a tax on the na- 
tion? 

25. What did this tax cause ? 

26. What was his character ? 

27. When did he die ? 

28. How long did he reign ? 

29. How was the day of his death celebrated ? 
BO. What was it called ? 

31. What ended with his reign? 

32. How long had the Danish reign lasted ? 

33. How long had they harassed the kingdom ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 37 



CHAPTER IX. 

In 1041, Edward the Confessor succeeded 
his half-brother Hardieanute. He built the 
church and monastery of Westminster. He 
was a weak and imbecile monarch. The 
mental qualities of Edward did not at all 
comport with the dignity of his person. 
His love of ease conduced to the tranquillity 
of his reign. From his barbarous treatment 
of his mother, in stripping her of her pro- 
perty, and confining her, he seems to have 
been destitute of any thing like ^natural af- 
fection. He was extremely punctilious in 
the performance of every religious duty ; 
and by this means acquired, among the vul- 
gar, the title of Saint and Confessor, by 
which title he was canonized by Pope Alex- 
ander III. 

One day while the king was reposing him- 
self upon a couch, a page, who little dreamed 
that he was in the apartment, filled his pock- 
ets from an open treasure-chest; but not 
being satisfied with his booty, he returned, 
and was refilling them with silver, when 
the king said very deliberately, " Boy, you 
had better be satisfied with what you have 
got, for if my chamberlain should come 
in, you will lose the whole, and be severely 
whipped besides." He died in the 24th year 
of his reign, A. D. 1065, and was buried in 
the sepulchre which he had prepared for 



38 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

himself, in Westminster Abbey. He was 
the last of the Saxon line that reigned in 
England. 

In 1065, Harold II. succeeded Edward 
the Confessor. His brother Toston (who 
having been stripped of his employments for 
his numerous crimes, had abandoned his 
country) applied to Harfager, the king of 
Norway, for assistance to dethrone him. 

! Harfager and Toston, with 500 ships, invaded 

| England, but after several hard-fought bat- 
tles, they were both slain ; each army having 
lost 60,000 men. Harold kept for himself 

I all the spoils taken from the Normans : this 
occasioned much dissatisfaction among the 

j people. 

William, duke of Normandy, w T as legally 
entitled to the crown, which had been willed 
to him by Edward the Confessor ; and when 
Harold was his prisoner, he had sworn to do 
all in his power to favour the duke; but 
afterwards being released, he had sought the 
crown himself, and obtained it. The duke 
sent a messenger to Harold, to demand the 
crown, and in case of refusal, to charge him 
with a breach of his oath, and to declare 
war against him. Harold returned for an- 
swer, that the duke had no right to the 
crown, that the oath was extorted from him, 
and that he would defend his rights against 
all opposers. The duke landed in Sussex, 
Sept. 29th, 1066, and built a fort there; 
and then marched along the coast as far as 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 39 

Hastings, where he built another strong fort, 
and waited for the coming of the enemy. 
Harold, having collected all his forces to- 
gether, encamped about seven miles from 
the Norman army, resolving to give them 
battle. The two armies engaged on the 1 7th 
of October. The battle was strongly con- 
tested ; but the duke, by pretending to re- 
treat and then immediately turning on him, 
threw Harold's army into confusion. A 
tremendous slaughter ensued, and Harold 
was killed. The duke obtained a complete 
victory. Harold's turbulent reign lasted 9 
months and 9 days. With him totally 
ended the reign of the Anglo-Saxons in Eng- 
land, which began 600 years before. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Hardicanute? 

2. What time did Edward the Confessor commence 



o. 



What church and monastery did he build? 

4. What tended to preserve peace ? 

5. How did he treat his mother? 

0. Of what did he seem to be destitute ? 

7. How did he perform his religious duties ? 

8. What title did he acquire ? 

0. By what title was he canonized .' 

10. What took place while he was reposing upon hi, c 
couch? * 

11. How long did he reign .' 

12. When did he die, and where was he buried? 

13. Who succeeded Edward the Confessor? 

14. When did Harold 11. commence his reign ? 

15. Who attempted to dethrone Harold ? 

16. Who assisted Toston in his opposition ? 

17. How many ships did the king of Norway send ? 



40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

18. What was the fate of Harfager and of Toston ? 

19. How many men did each army lose ? 

20. What caused much dissatisfaction among the 
people ? 

21 . To whom did Edward the Confessor will the crown? 

22. What was Harold's conduct towards William, 
duke of Normandy ? 

23. Where did the duke land his troops in England ? 

24. What did he build there ? 

25. Where did he march his troops ? 
2(5. What did he build there ? 

27. For whom did he wait ? 

28. When was the memorable battle of Hastings 
fought ? 

29. Who was slain in this battle ? 

30. Who was victorious ? 

31. What stratagem was made use of? 

32. How long did Harold reign ? 

33. When was he killed ? 

34. What totally ended with king Harold ? 

35. How many years since the Anglo-Saxons began 
to reign in England? 



CHAPTER X. 

William the Conqueror succeeded Ha- 
rold, Dec. 25th, 1065. After his coronation, 
he solemnly swore " to protect the church 
and its ministers, to govern the nation with 
equity, to enact just laws, and to cause them 
to he duly observed, and to forbid all rapines 
and unjust judgments." As soon as it was 
known that he had been crowned in London, 
all opposition to him ceased, and he was ac- 
knowledged king throughout the whole 
country. He built a church on the spot 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 41 

where the battle of Hastings was fought, and 
a monastery, which he called Battle Abbey. 
In the beginning of 1067, he visited Nor- 
mandy, and, to prevent any insurrection in 
his absence, he took with him some of the 
principal noblemen of England. On his 
return he revived the obnoxious tax former- 
ly called Danegold, and insurrections and 
revolts followed in abundance. Several of 
the earls, with the king of Wales, raised an 
army to oppose William ; but he soon dis- 
persed them, and the earls, submitting, were 
pardoned. The duke built castles in many 
cities, and garrisoned them with Norman 
troops, which measure created much ani- 
mosity. The English were oppressed, and 
the Normans favoured. This caused several 
of the lords to leave the realm and go to 
Scotland. He ordered that the inhabitants 
should have no light in their houses after 
eight o'clock at night. At that hour a bell 
Was rung, which was called the curfew, from 
couvrc feu. (viz. cover fire,) at the sound of 
which, they were obliged, under severe pe- 
nalties, to put out their fire and candles. 

In 1071, there was a great outbreak; the 
malecon tents betook themselves to the Isle 
of Ely, *and strongly fortified it. The king 
blockaded the rebels on the island, and forced 
them to submit. During this outbreak, the 
Scots invaded the northern counties, but to 
their sorrow. They offered to accommo- 
date matters by a treaty, which was grant- 

4* 



42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

ed, and they willingly did homage to the 
king. 

In 1073, Philip, king of France, being 
jealous of the greatness of William, invaded 
Normandy without any declaration of war. 
Upon which William went over with a great 
army. Philip soon grew tired of the war, 
and made peace with William. A plot was 
formed by some Norman noblemen to de- 
throne the king ; but it was made known to 
him, and they were severely punished. 

In 1077, his son Robert, urged by the king 
of France, rebelled against his father in 
Normandy. William went over, and his 
son submitted to him ; he took him to Eng- 
land with him, and in 1080 sent him against 
the Scots, who were again making incursions. 
This war also ended in a treaty. 

Robert founded the tow T n of Newcastle. 
About this time, William built the famous 
Tower of London. 

The king introduced the Norman lan- 
guage, and caused all the Saxon laws to be 
translated into Norman, and published his 
laws in that tongue ; and commanded it to 
be taught in all schools. The consequence 
was a mongrel language, neither Saxon nor 
Norman, but a mixture of both. He erected 
new courts of justice, and ordered all the 
proceedings to be in the Norman tongue. 
He introduced the feudal law, and first ap- 
pointed justices of the peace. 

He had an immense revenue, and in order 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 43 

that every one should pay in proportion to 
his means, he ordered a general survey to be 
made of all the land, and an estimate of the 
wealth of the kingdom, in money, cattle, &c. ; 
all which were set down in a book called 
Doomsday-Book, which was finished in the 
year 1086, and which is still preserved in the 
exchequer. 

He made war on Philip, king of France ; 
but a truce soon ensued, which, however, was 
broken by Philip's jests in relation to Wil- 
liam's large stomach. In this war he re- 
ceived a bruise from the pommel of his sad- 
dle, which proved fatal. 

From the acts of William's reign, he seems 
to have been a king of great courage, capa- 
city, and ambition. His appearance was 
noble and imperious ; his stature tall and 
portly ; his constitution robust, and the com- 
position of his bones and muscles so strong 
that there was hardly a man of that age 
who could bend his bow or handle his arms. 

He died September 9, 1087, in the 61st 
year of his age, after having reigned in Nor- 
mandy 22 years, and in England 2\ years. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Harold to the throne of England ? 

2. Wh,en did William the Conqueror commence his 
reign ? 

3. What did he swear to perform ? 

4. When did all opposition to him cease ? 

5. What did he build on the famous battle-ground at 
Hastings ? 

6. What did he call the monastery ? 



44 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

7. When did he visit Normandy ? 

8. Who did he take with him, and for Avhat purpose ? 

9. What tax did he levy after he returned to Eng- 
land ? 

10. What did the revival of that obnoxious tax pro- 
duce ? 

11. What did he build in many of the cities? 

12. By whom were they garrisoned ? 
IS. YVhat did these acts create ? 

14. What order for the extinction of fires did the king 
enforce ? 

15. What is meant by the curfew I 
10. What happened in 1071 ? 

17. Who invaded England during this outbreak? 

18. How Were matters settled ? 

19. At what time did king Philip of France invade 
Normandy ? 

20. How did William oppose Philip ? 

21. Did the war continue long ? 

22. Who formed a plot to dethrone William ? 

23. What was done with the noblemen ? 

24. Who urged Robert to rebel against his father 
William ? 

25. What course did Robert take, after his father went 
over to Normandy ? 

2(3. Where did he go with his father ? 

27. Against whom was he sent by his father ? 

28. Who founded the town of Newcastle ? 

29. Who built the Tower of London ? 

30. How was the Norman language introduced into 
England ? 

31. What was the consequence of this measure? 

32. What law did he introduce ? 

33. What officers did he first appoint ? 

34. What noted book was made by his direction ? 

35. When was it completed ? 

30. What was entered in Doomsday-Book ? 

37. Where is it preserved at this time ? 

38. On whom did he make war ? 

39. What soon followed ? 

40. How was that truce broken ? 



HISTORY Or ENGLAND. 45 

41. What did king William receive in the war? 

42. From the acts of his reign, what was his character ? 

43. What was his appearance ? 

44. When did he die ? 

45. How long did he reign in Normandy, and how 
long in England ? 

46. What Avas his age at the time of his death ? 



CHAPTER XI. 

William II., surnamed Rufus, or the Red, 
from the colour of his hair, succeeded his 
father. 

He was crowned September 27, 1 087. His 
reign is not marked by one act that can be 
called praiseworthy. He was engaged in two 
wars with his brother Robert, duke of Nor- 
mandy. A peace was concluded each time, 
without any decisive battle taking place. 
The Scotch and Welsh invaded his territory, 
and an insurrection broke out : these were all 
quelled. 

He had courage, but it was more like the 
fierceness of a wild beast than the bravery of 
a hero. He was ill-natured and brutal in his 
behaviour. He was wholly indifferent to 
religion ; and he had no regard for honour 
or lionesty. He was void of learning, prin- 
ciple, and humanity. He oppressed his peo- 
ple in every form of tyranny and insult. He 
was an inveterate enemy to the English, and 
took all opportunities to oppress and ensnare 
them . At one time, he imprisoned fifty of the 



46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

best families in England under pretence of 
their having killed his deer. All historians 
agree that he was the worst prince that ever 
sat upon the throne of England. 

He was accidentally killed by Walter Tyr- 
rel, August 3d, 1 100. He reigned nearly 13 
years, and was 44 years of age. 

A. D. 1100, Henry I. succeeded his bro- 
ther, William II. A strong party of the no- 
bles was in favour of Robert, to whom, by 
virtue of a treaty with William, the crown 
rightfully belonged. A great concourse of 
people collected at Westminster from all 
parts, and Henry, well knowing how the peo- 
ple stood affected, drew his sword, and swore 
that no man but one whom the people ap- 
proved should take possession of the crown. 

The lords retired to consult about the 
matter ; but the people, with loud acclama- 
tions, made the name of Henry ring in their 
ears. Fearing the people, they resolved that 
Henry should succeed to the crown. On the 
next day, August 5th, 1 1 00, he was crowned. 
To secure himself on the throne, he wisely 
began his reign by reforming abuses, redress- 
ing grievances, and doing many popular acts 
in accordance with promises which he had 
made. He granted a charter of liberties, 
confining the royal prerogative within its an- 
cient bounds, and renouncing the unjust pre- 
rogative which the two late kings had usurp- 
ed, restoring the church to her lormer rights, 
and confirming the laws of king Edward. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 47 

He moreover remitted all arrears of debt 
due the crown, and appointed a standard of 
weights and measures throughout the king- 
dom. 

During the reign of Henry, a dispute arose 
about investiture of bishops and abbots, and 
their doing homage to the king. A council 
held at Rome decided that no bishop should 
receive investiture from laymen. r l he con- 
test ran high, and lasted for several years. 
It w T as at last compromised by the king re- 
nouncing the right of investiture, and the 
pope directing the bishops to do him homage. 

The pope's legate came to England, and 
held a synod in London ; at which severe 
canons were passed against such of the cler- 
gy as persisted in keeping their wives. King 
Henry, by all seeming zeal in the matter, 
cunningly got from the pope a power to put 
it into execution : which done, he gave the 
priests leave to keep their wives, upon their 
paying him large sums of money for a dis- 
pensation. 

A dispute arising in Normandy, Robert 
sent to his brother Henry for assistance, 
which was readily granted ; but instead of 
aiding his brother, he took the kingdom from 
both of, the contending parties, and ruled it 
himself. 

His daughter Maude married Geoffrey 
Plantagenet. 

Henry was of middle stature and robust 
make ; his capacity was naturally good, and 



48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

it was improved and cultivated in so excel- 
lent a manner that he acquired the name of 
Beauclerc. His courage was unquestioned, 
and his fortitude invincible. He was said to 
be the richest prince in Europe at the time 
of his death. 

He died Dec. 1st, 1133, in the 34th year 
of his reign, and in the 68th year of his age. 
He was buried in the abbey of Reading. 
During his reign learning flourished. The 
revival of letters at Cambridge was remark- 
ble. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded William the Conqueror? 

2. At what time did William Rufus commence his 
reign? 

3. With whom was he engaged in tAVO wars ? 

4. How were those Avars settled ? 

5. By whom were the king's territories invaded ? 
0. What else disturbed the peace of the kingdom? 

7. What became of the invaders and insurrectionists? 

8. What did the king's courage resemble? 

9. What was the king in his behaviour? 

10. How did he treat religion ? 

11. For what had he no regard ? 

12. Of what was he destitute ? 

13. What was his conduct to the English people ? 

14. In what do all historians agree ? 

15. When was the king killed? 

16. By whom was he killed ? 

17. How old was William Rufus, and hoAv long did 
he reign ? 

18. AVho succeeded William Rufus? 

19. At what time did Henry I. commence his reign ? 

20. To whom did the crown rightfully belong ? 

21. Who opposed the nobles who favoured Robert's 
claim ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 49 

22. When was Henry crowned ? 

23. What did he do to secure himself on th^ throne ? 

24. What did he grant ? 

25. What did he remit, and what did he appoint ? 

26. During his reign what dispute arose ? 

27. How long did the dispute last? 

28. How was it at last settled ? 

29. What was passed at a synod held in London ? 

30. Who had the power to put it into execution ? 

31. What privilege had the clergy, by paying large 
sums of money ? 

32. How did king Henry settle a dispute that arose 
in Normandy ? 

33. Whom did his daughter Maude marry ? 

34. What is said of his person ? 

35. What is said of his capacity ? 

36. What name did he acquire by his learning ? 

37. What is said of his courage, fortitude, and riches ? 

38. When did he die? 

39. How lonof did he reign ? 

40. How old was he at his death? 

41. Where was he buried ? 

42. What nourished during his reign ? 



CHAPTER XII. 

Stephen, son of Adda, and grandson of 
William the Conqueror, succeeded Henry I. 
He was crowned Dec. 25th, 1135. Soon 
after his coronation, he convened a general 
assembly at Oxford, in which he signed a 
charter, acknowledging his being elected king- 
by the clergy and people ; confirming all the 
liberties and immunities of the church, and 
consenting that all ecclesiastical cases and per- 



50 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

sons should be tried by the clergy ; abolishing 
all the game laws enacted since the Conquest, 
and the forest laws, and reviving the ancient 
Saxon laws. He moreover abolished Dane- 
gold, which had been taken away by Edward 
the Confessor, but restored by the Norman 
kings. He permitted the barons to fortify 
their estates, so that in a little time there 
were above 1000 fortified castles in the 
kingdom. Maude, king Henry's daughter, 
the rightful heir to the crown, and to whom 
Stephen had sworn fealty, made an effort to 
obtain her right. There was civil war for 
some time, and Stephen was taken prisoner 
and imprisoned. In turn, the earl of Glou- 
cester, Maude's brother, was taken prisoner 
and imprisoned. An exchange of prisoners 
was made, and king Stephen finally triumph- 
ed. The Scotch and Welsh took advantage 
of the internal wars, and on several occasions 
invaded the king's territories, but had al- 
ways to sue for peace. 

He died Oct. 25th, 1154, in the 19th 
year of his reign, and the 50th year of his 
age. He was buried in the abbey of Fever- 
sham, which he had built. 

Henry II., son of Maude, and grandson 
of Henry I., succeeded Stephen. He was 
the first king of the race of the Plantagenets. 
He was crowned Dec. 19th, 1154. 

His first measure was to demolish the 
great number of castles which had been for- 
tified by the bishops and barons in Stephen's 



«J*ML'i T» ■ Trrr- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 51 

reign. He sent away the foreign troops that 
had been employed by his predecessor ; he 
revoked all the grants made by Stephen, re- 
sumed all the lands that had been alienated 
from the crown, and deprived the barons 
created by Stephen of their honourable titles, 
as having been conferred by a usurper. 

He went over to France in 1 158, and con- 
cluded a marriage between his eldest son 
Henry and Margaret, daughter of the French 
king. Henry was 5 years old, and Margaret, 
5 months. The two kings declared war 
against each other, but the pope interfered, 
and a peace was concluded. 

For the purpose of reforming the abuses 
of the clergy, Henry promoted a nobleman, 
named Thomas a Becket, to the second office 
in the kingdom, namely, the Archbishopric 
of Canterbury : but, to the astonishment of 
the king, Becket vehemently opposed his 
project. The king convened the chief lords 
of the kingdom, spiritual and temporal, and 
proposed to them regulations tending to make 
them subject to the civil power. The tem- 
poral lords agreed to these articles without 
any hesitation ; but the bishops and abbots 
refused their assent, without a saving clause 
reserving the rights of the clergy and church. 
Influenced by the king's menaces, they finally 
complied, and even Becket consented . Soon 
after, the articles were confirmed by a gene- 
ral assembly, or Parliament, convened at 
Clarendon. When the articles were sent to 



52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

the pope for his sanction, he condemned them 
as prejudicial to the church. Becket now 
took sides with the pope, and an open rup- 
ture took place between him and the king. 
His archbishopric was taken from him, and 
church censures were thundered out against 
the king. A reconciliation was at length efFect- 
ed between the king and Becket, and he was 
restored to his former state ; but Becket soon 
became so insolent that the king said, " It is 
my great unhappiness, that among all my 
subjects, there is not one who dares to re- 
venge the affronts which I receive from a 
wretched priest." From this time, four 
gentlemen of the king's household entered 
into a plot against Becket's life. Accord- 
ingly, they went to Canterbury, and followed 
him into the Cathedral, where they killed 
him before the altar, which was besmeared 
with his blood and brains. This happened 
in 1171. 

The next year Henry conquered Ireland. 
He left Hugh Lacy there, to govern in his 
name, with the title of Grand Justiciary of 
Ireland. In 1176, he divided England into 
circuits, appointing judges to go at certain 
times of the year and hold the assizes, or ad- 
minister justice to the people, which plan is 
practised at this day. About this time the 
building of London bridge was begun by 
Peter Coleman. 

Henry's talents were naturally good, and 
| they were highly cultivated. He delighted 

baaa— — i c— m i ■ ■ ii i nipiiwi i in ■ m — —— — Wm—mtmmmm — — ■ 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 53 

in the conversation of learned men, to whom 
he was a benefactor. His memory was so 
tenacious, that he never forgot a fact nor a 
circumstance that was worth remembering. 
He was superior to all his contemporaries in 
strength, riches, true courage, and military 
skill, though he never went into war without 
reluctance. He w^as the king, the priest, 
the father of his country, and one of the 
most powerful and illustrious monarchs that 
ever flourished on the English throne. 

King Henry died July 6, 1189, in the 
57th year of his age, and 35th of his reign. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Henry I. to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

2. When was Stephen crowned ? 

3. What did he convene at Oxford ? 

4. What did he sign in that assembly ? 

5. What did this charter acknowledge, abolish, and 
permit ? 

6. How many castles were erected about this time 
in England ? 

7. Who was the rightful heir to the crown ? 

8. What effort did she make ? 

9. What continued for some time? 

10. Who were made prisoners in this civil war? 

11. What became of those distinguished prisoners? 

12. Who finally succeeded ? 

13. Who took advantage of the civil war to invade 
the king's* territories ? 

14. For what were they obliged to sue ? 

15. When did king Stephen die ? 

16. How old was he at the time of his death ? 

17. How long did he reign ? 

18. Who succeeded Stephen to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

5* 



54 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

19. Of what race was he the first that reigned ? 

20. When was he crowned ? 

21. What did he demolish soon after the beginning 
of his reign ? 

22. Whom did he send away ? 

23. What did he revoke ? 

24. What did he resume ? 

25. Of what did he deprive the barons who had been 
created by Stephen ? 

26. When did he visit France, and what did he con- 
clude ? 

27. What did the king of England and the king of 
France declare ? 

28. By whose interference was a peace concluded ? 

29. Whom did the king raise to the second office in 
the kingdom ? 

30. For Avhat purpose did he promote Thomas a 
Becket? 

31. Did he aid the king in his project? 

32. For what were the chief lords convened? 

33. What did he propose to them ? 

34. Who objected to what he proposed ? 

35. What induced them finally to comply ? 
30. By whom were the articles confirmed ? 

37. How did the pope treat them ? 

38. What* effect had the pope's course upon Becket? 

39. What followed between the king and Becket ? 

40. What did the king take from Becket? 

41. And what was thundered out against the king? 

42. What at length took place between the king and 
Becket? 

43. What did the reconciliation produce ? 

44. What was a great unhappiness to the king ? 

45. What horrid act was perpetrated by four gentle- 
men of the king's household ? 

40. In what year did this bloody tragedy happen ? 

47. When did Henry conquer Ireland ? 

48. Whom did he leave in Ireland to govern in his 
name ? 

49. What title was given to Hugh Lacy ? 

50. How did the king divide England in 1176? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 55 

51. Whom did he appoint, and for what purpose ? 

52. Who built London bridge ? 

53. What is said of the king's talents ? 
51. In what did the king delight ? 

53. What is said of his memory ? 

56. In what was he superior to his contemporaries ? 

57. What is said of him generally 1 

58. When did he die, and in what year of his age 1 

59. How long did he reign ? 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Richard I. succeeded his father Henry II. 
He was crowned Sept. 3d, 1189. At the 
coronation, the people fell upon some Jews 
who were pressing forward to witness the 
ceremony, and killed a number of them. 
The king caused several of the ringleaders to 
be put to death. 

During this reign the third crusade against 
the Saracens was in progress. Richard took 
an active part in it. In his journey to the 
Holy Land, he made himself master of Cy- 
prus. In Palestine, he had a great battle 
with Saladin, who commanded 300,000 
Turks ; but Richard, with a much smaller 
army, gained a complete victory, and slew 
40,000 of the enemy. Richard took a great 
Babylon caravan, consisting of 3,000 camels 
laden, and 4,000 horses or mules, guarded 
by 10,000 horsemen. By this capture, he 
became possessed of an inestimable treasure. 
When he had arrived in sight of the holy 



56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

city, many of his foreign troops had deserted 
him ; and having lost many of his own men 
from war and sickness, and the want of fo- 
rage, he was compelled to defer the siege. 
In the meanwhile, troubles at home induced 
him to return to England ; but before he left 
Palestine, he concluded a truce with Saladin 
for three years, and placed Henry, earl of 
Champagne, at the head of all the troops he 
left in Palestine. On his return home, he 
was cast away on the coast of Istria, and, in- 
tending to travel in disguise through Ger- 
many, he was seized by the duke of Austria, 
and imprisoned fifteen months. He was at 
length released for the round sum of 100,000 
marks of pure silver. 

In besieging a castle, an archer struck him 
with an arrow on the shoulder, near the 
neck, which wound, under the hands of an 
unskilful surgeon, caused his death. He 
was a prince of great courage and valour, 
whence he was called the Lion's Heart. 

He died April 6th, 1199, in the 10th year 
of his reign, and 43.d of his age. He reigned 
24 years. In the whole of his reign, he was 
in England not more than eight months. 
During his reign the first mayor was created. 

John succeeded his brother Richard I. 
He was crowned May 28, 1199. He had 
great disputes with the pope and clergy ; the 
result of which was deeply humbling to 
him. Enraged at John's tyranny, the barons 
assembled an army, and after reducing him 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 57 

to great extremities, they extorted from him 
the famous Magna Charta, the chief founda- 
tion of the English Constitution. During 
this reign, London was incorporated, and 
provision made for the electing of the lord 
mayor and the other magistrates. John was 
the first who coined sterling money. 

John died Oct. 18, 1216 in the 18th year 
of his reign, and the 51st year of his age. 
He was a weak, haughty, and tyrannical 
prince. 

Henry III. succeeded his father John. 
He was crowned Oct. 28, 1216, when he 
was only 1 years of age. The earl of Pem- 
broke was chosen guardian to him, and re- 
gent of the kingdom. In 1219, the earl of 
Pembroke died, and during the king's minor- 
ity, the government was then committed 
to the bishop of Winchester. In 1221, the 
new building of Westminster Abbey was 
begun : king Henry laid the first stone. 

The king had several wars with France, 
but gained nothing by them. He and the 
barons had continued disputes, which at last 
ended in a civil war. On May 14, 1264, 
was fought the famous battle of Lewis, in 
which the royal army was routed, and 
the king, his brother, and son were taken 
prisoners. The prince escaped from his con- 
finement, and raised another army, and in 
turn routed the baron's army, killing the 
general and his son, and released his father 
from confinement. 



M 



58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Henry was a prince of very mean talents, 
irresolute, inconstant, and capricious ; proud, 
insolent, and arbitrary ; arrogant in prosper- 
ity, and abject in adversity. He died Nov. 
16th, 1272, aged 66 years. He reigned 56 
years and 20 days. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Henry II. to the throne? 

2. AVhen was Richard I. crowned ? 

3. What disturbance took place during the ceremony ? 

4. How were the ringleaders punished ? 

5. Which of the Crusades was carried on during this 



re i en 



6. Did Richard take part in this Crusade ? 

7. What island did he take in his journey to the 
Holy Land ? 

8. Where and with whom did he fight a great battle ? 

9. Who gained the victory ? 

10. How many Turks composed Saladin's army ? 

11. How many of them were killed in this battle ? 

12. What great treasure did Richard take ? 

13. On arriving in sight of the holy city, what hap- 
pened 1 

14. What induced him to return to England? 

15. What did he conclude before he left Palestine ? 
10. Whom did he place at the head of the troops he 

left in Palestine ? 

17. What happened to him on his return home ? 

18. How long was he imprisoned by the duke of 
Austria? 

19. What was paid for his release ? 

20. What caused his death? 

21. What gave him the title of Lion's Heart? 

22. When did he die, and at what age, and how long 
had he reigned ? 

23. How long was he in England during his reign ? 

24. When was the first mayor created ? 

25. Who succeeded Richard I. to the throne ? 

26. When was he crowned ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 59 

27. With whom had he a great dispute ? 

28. Who assembled an army ? 

29. What did they extort from King John ? 

30. What city was incorporated ? 

31. For what was provision made? 

32. When did he die, at what age, and how long had 
he reigned ? 

33. What was his general character ? 

34. Who succeeded king John to the throne ? 

35. When was he crowned ? 

36. Who was chosen his guardian during his minority ? 

37. When did the earl of Pembroke die? 

38. To whom was the government then committed ? 

39. When was the new building of Westminster 
Abbey commenced ? 

40. Who laid the corner-stone? 

41. What did the king gain by his wars with France ? 

42. With whom had the king continual disputes ? 

43. In what did they end ? 

44. What battle was fought May 14th, 1264? 

45. Which army was routed ? 
48. Who were taken prisoners ? 

47. Which of them escaped from confinement ? 

48. What did the prince raise ? 

49. Which army was routed at this time ? 

50. Who were killed in this battle ? 

51. Who was released from confinement ? 

52. What was the character of king Henry? 

53. When did he die, and at what age ? 

54. How long had he reigned ? 



60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

A. D. 1272, Edward I. succeeded his 
father Henry III. At the time of his father's 
death, he was on his return from the Holy 
Land. He was crowned August 19, 1274. 
All the lords of the kingdom were present 
at the coronation, on which occasion 500 
horses were let loose over the country, which 
became the property of any one who could 
catch them. Edward rectified the abuses 
in the administration of justice, and parlia- 
ment enacted some good laws, called the 
statutes of Westminster. In the year 12S0, 
the statute of quo warranto was passed. 

Wales was united to the crown of England 
in 1283. Soon after, the queen gave birth 
to a son named Edward ; at 17 years of age, 
he was invested with the principality of 
Wales ; and since then, the king's eldest son 
has been styled Prince of Wales. About 
this time the statute of mortmain was passed, 
to put a stop to the prevailing practice of 
persons alienating their lands to the church. 

In 1289, the king set about reforming the 
abuses in the administration of justice. He 
punished several judges who were found 
guilty of taking bribes, and obliged them to 
swear to refrain from such practices. 

Taking advantage of the divisions in Scot- 
land, Edward, by a wily course of policy, as 
well as by force of arms, subjected it ; but 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 61 

the Scots under Sir William Wallace soon 
terribly routed the English, and almost clear- 
ed their country of the enemy. Wallace, 
being ill-used by his countrymen and be- 
trayed into the hands of Edward, was cruelly 
put to death ; but Robert Bruce, soon after 
assuming the crown of Scotland, defeated 
the English under the earl of Pembroke, and 
recovered several towns which they had j 
taken. Edward was highly enraged against 
the Scots, and began his march northward ; ! 
but on his journey was seized with a disease 
which put an end to his life; 

Edward, in the qualities of his mind, 
equalled the greatest monarchs that have sat 
upon the English throne. He died July 7th, 
1307, in his 68th year; having reigned 34 
years, 7 months, and 20 days. 

Edward II. succeeded his father Edward I. 
He was crowned Feb. 24th, 1308. He per- 
formed no good or praiseworthy act during 
his reign. He was totally unfit to rule, and 
was governed by favourites, the first of whom 
(Gaveston) was beheaded by the angry 
barons ; the next was Spencer, who exercised 
uncontrolled power over Edward and in- 
sulted the queen. She went over to the 
continent under the pretence of reconciling 
her husband and her brother, king of France, 
but returned to England with a large army. 
She was met by a number of lords, and 
joined by a large force. The king was en- 
tirely deserted. He concealed himself in an 



62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

abbey; Spencer was seized and hanged, the 
kins; was imprisoned, and his son crowned 
on the 20th Jan., 1327. Edward II. was 
a very weak and bad man. He reigned 
about 1 9 years. During his reign the battle 
of Bannockburn was fought, in which Robert 
Bruce, with thirty thousand Scots, totally 
defeated the English army, which consisted 
of 100,000 men. 

Edward III. succeeded his father Edward 
II. The Scots, headed by king Robert 
Bruce, made incursions into his territory 
and committed many depredations. Edward 
marched against them with an army of 
60,000 men, including the Hainaulters, late- 
ly brought from France. At York, a quar- 
rel arose between them, which delayed their 
march, and gave the Scots an opportunity of 
ravaging the country, and securing great 
booty. About this time, the late king came 
to a most horrid death at the hands of two 
ruffians, one of whom was afterwards exe- 
cuted. 

In 1333, king Edward had a great battle 
with the Scots, whom he entirely defeated. 
He sent duke Brabant to France to demand 
the crown from Philip de Valois, whom he 
conceived had usurped it after the death of 
his uncle Charles, and in case of refusal to 
declare war against him. Philip refused; 
and in 1338, "Edward set sail for France 
with a large fleet. The campaign ended 
without bloodshed. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 63 

In 1340, Edward took the title of king of 
France, using it in all public acts, and quar- 
tered the arms of France with his own, add- 
ing this motto, Dieu et mon droit, God and 
my right. He soon after obtained a great 
victory over the French at sea; and a truce 
was agreed upon through the mediation of 
the pope. 

In 1346, king Edward, in company with 
his son Edward, prince of Wales, landed in 
Normandy, and on the 26th of August, 1346, 
an obstinate and bloody battle was fought, 
which proved fatal to the French. The 
prince, only 1 6 years of age, performed won- 
ders in this battle. The victory was chiefly 
owing to him, and the king his father gave 
him the honour of it. King Philip was 
wounded, several earls and dukes w r ere killed, 
and 1500 eminent noblemen, 120 knights, 
and above 80 French stands of arms were 
taken. In this battle the English made use 
of cannon, then unknown to the French. 
After besieging Calais, Edward consented to 
a truce for one year. 

During this time the queen marched against 
David king of the Scots, and defeated him 
and took him prisoner. King David remain- 
ed a prisoner eleven years, and was then 
released by paying 100,000 marks. A ten 
years truce was then agreed upon between 
the two kingdoms. David died A. D. 1368, 
and left the crown to Robert Stuart, his ne- 
phew. In 1 3 6 6, Edward instituted the most 



64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

famous order of knighthood in the world, 
viz. that of the garter. 

In 1356, another great battle was fought 
between the English and French. The 
English were commanded by prince Edward, 
and notwithstanding the great superiority of 
the French, Edward gained a complete vic- 
tory. The French king was taken prisoner 
and carried to England : he paid 3,000,000 
crowns for his ransom. 

On June 8th, 1376, Edward, prince of 
Wales, the delight of the nation, died, in the 
46th year of his age. He was called the Black 
Prince, from wearing black armour. King 
Edward died June 21st, 1377, in the 65th 
year of his age, and the 51st of his reign. 

Edward III. was undoubtedly one of the 
greatest princes that ever swayed the sceptre 
of England, whether we view him as a 
warrior or a lawgiver, a monarch or a man. 
He possessed the courage and romantic spirit 
of Alexander ; the penetration, the fortitude, 
the polished manners of Caesar ; and. the 
magnificence, the liberality, and wisdom of 
Augustus. He was constitutionally a knight- 
errant. 

During his reign weaving woollen was in- 
troduced into England, which Edward fore- 
saw might prove* of great benefit to the peo- 
ple. Wickliif lived in his reign. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 65 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Henry III. to the throne? 

2. Where was he at the time of his father's death? 

3. When was Edward I. crowned ? 

4. Who was present at the coronation ? 

5. What were let loose ? 

6. What was the first act of his reign ? 

7. What laws* were enacted by parliament ? 

8. When was the statute of quo warranto passed? 

9. When was Wales united to the croAvn of England ? 

10. What was the name of the king's eldest son ? 

11. With what was he invested? 

12. What title did he assume ? 

13. For what purpose was the statute of mortmain 
passed? 

14. How did the king reform abuses in the adminis- 
tration of justice ? 

15. Of what did he take advantage ? 

1(5. Under what leader did the Scots rout the English ? 

17. What was his fate ? 

18. Who assumed the crown of Scotland? 

19. Whom did he defeat ? 

20. What effect was produced on the mind of Edward ? 

21. With what was he seized ? 

22. In what did Edward equal the greatest English 
monarchs ? 

23. When did he die, and at what age ? 

24. How long had he reigned ? 

25. Who succeeded Edward I. ? 

26. When was Edward II. crowned ? 

27. What did he not perform ? 

28. For what was he totally unfit? 

29. By whom was he governed ? 
» 39. H#w was the queen treated ? 

31. For what purpose did she go to the continent? 

32. What became of Spencer, the king's second fa- 
vourite ? 

33. What became of the king ? 

34. What great battle was gained by the Scots under 
Robert Bruce ? 



66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

35. Who succeeded Edward II. ? 

36. When was Edward III. crowned ? 

37. What was done by the Scots ? 

38. By whom were they headed ? 

39. How many men did Edward command ? 

40. What arose in his army ? 

41. How did this quarrel favour the designs of the 
Scots ? 

42. What -was the fate of the late king- ? 

43. In what year had the king a great battle with the 
Scots? 

44. Which party was defeated ? 

45. For what purpose did the king send duke Bra- 
bant to France ? 

46. For what did he declare war against Philip de 
Valois ? 

47. When did the king set sail with a large fleet for 
France ? 

48. How did this campaign end ? 

49. When did Edward take the title of king of France ? 

50. How was it used ? 

51. What was added to the arms of England ? 

52. What was the motto ? 

53. Over whom did Edward gain a victory ? 

54. Who acted as mediator? 

55. When did Edward and his son land in Normandy ? 
50. When was an obstinate and bloody battle fought ? 

57. To whom did it prove fatal ? 

58. To whose bravery was the victory chiefly owing ? 

59. Who was wounded in this battle ? 
GO. Who was killed, and what taken ? 

61. When did the English first use cannon ? 
02. How was king David taken prisoner ? 

63. How long did he remain a prisoner, and what was 
paid for his ransom ? 

64. When did lie die ? 

65. What famous order was instituted by Edward ? 

66. When was another great battle fought ? 

67. Describe the battle ? 

68. What was paid for the ransom of the French 
kinsr ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 67 

09. When did Edward prince of Wales die, and at 
what age ? 

70. When did king Edward die, at what age, and how 
long had he reigned ? 

71. What is said of his general character? 

72. What distinguished reformer flourished during 
this reisrn ? 



CHAPTER XV. 

Richard II., son of the Black Prince, 
succeeded his grandfather Edward III., and 
was crowned without* opposition, on July 1 6, 
1377. France at this time was disposed to 
be unfriendly towards England, and commit- 
ted many depredations on the English coast. 
The first parliament convened after the coro- 
nation of Richard, passed a law laying a head 
or poll-tax of 1 2s. on all persons over 1 5 years 
of age. The collection of this tax was diffi- 
cult, and it was therefore farmed out. One^of 
the tax collectors and Wat Tyler had a dis- 
pute about the age of one of Wat's children. 
The collector being insolent and immodest 
iii ascertaining the age of the young lady, 
Wat killed him with a hammer. The peo- 
ple applauded Tyler and ilew to arms. Tyler 
was mm placed at the head of 100,000 men. 
They marched to London, and on their way 
they committed many shocking acts. When 
they entered London, they committed the 
most horrid ravages, burning and plundering 
the houses of the judges, lords, and principal 



68 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

citizens. They seized the archbishop of Can- 
terbury and the high treasurer, and beheaded 
them. The king and council were dismay- 
ed, but at last they resolved to offer the rebels 
a general pardon, and a charter confirming 
the people's liberty. This was accepted by 
many of the rebels, and they marched home. 
Others refused, and continued in insurrection 
for some time. At a conference with the 
king in Smithfield, the lord mayor of Lon- 
don struck Wat Tyler a furious blow over 
the head, and killed him. His companion, 
Jack Straw, was soon after seized and exe- 
cuted ; and the rebels, being thus deprived of 
their leaders, were obliged to submit to the 
government. 

This memorable insurrection took place 
in 1 3 8 1 ; at the close of which, the king was 
married to Anne of Luxemburg. In the 
same year the king granted power to the 
bishops to imprison heretics ; but the House 
of Commons soon got it revoked. In 1385, 
the Scots and French were making great 
preparations for invading England. This 
alarmed the king and his court; and in a 
very short time the king stood at the head 
of 300,000 soldiers. But he did little with 
his army, except march with it into Scotland 
and retreat ingloriously. 

The archbishop of York, with two others, 
gained a complete control over the king, 
and much jealousy existed between his three 
uncles and his three favourites. Parliament 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 69 

refused to grant supplies until the favourites 
were dismissed. Parliament then appointed 
fourteen commissioners to manage affairs 
jointly with the king. But no sooner had 
parliament adjourned, than he recalled his 
obnoxious ministers, and turned out the four- 
teen commissioners. He then tried to raise 
an army, but was so unpopular that he could 
not accomplish it. The earl of Darby was 
forced to leave his country ; and at his death 
some papers were found disclosing the king's 
plan of subverting the liberties of the people. 
The duke of Gloucester marched an army 
of 40,000 men to London. He upbraided 
the king for wishing to make himself abso- 
lute, and compelled him to call a new par- 
liament, and again banish his favourites. In 
this parliament several persons were im- 
peached of high-treason; some were banished, 
and the estates of some were confiscated. 

About this time he contracted a second 
marriage with Isabella, daughter of Charles 
VI. of France, and made a dishonourable truce 
of 28 years with France. He soon after 
turned out of office all the sheriffs and judges 
who were not his tools, and by this means 
got a packed parliament, which gave him 
absolute authority. He now knew no re- 
straint, and confiscated the property of those 
who had been pardoned. 

A rebellion now broke out in Ireland, and 
the king went over with his troops to quell it. 
During~his absence, a conspiracy was formed 



70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

in England to deprive him of his crown. 
The duke of Lancaster was fixed on to suc- 
ceed his nephew Richard. The duke re- 
turned from France to England, and the 
people mostly declared for him. In a few 
days he was joined by an army of 60,000 
men. All persons in authority, ministers, 
&c, now left their stations in fear, shutting 
themselves up in castles. London and the 
cities generally received the duke with the 
greatest demonstrations of joy. 

When the king returned from Ireland, and 
found that the nobility and people had de- 
clared in favour of the duke, he was in the 
utmost consternation, and shut himself in 
Conway castle, in Wales. The duke march- 
ed to the castle. Richard, in his extremity, 
thought it best to throw himself upon his 
uncle's generosity, and even offered to resign 
his crown, if he would spare his life, and 
allow him an honourable pension. The 
king was taken to London, and put into the 
Tower. The duke compelled him to call a 
parliament. The day before it met, the 
duke, with a great many lords, went to the 
Tower, and Richard delivered up the crown 
and sceptre, and signed a writing, confessing 
himself unworthy and unfit to govern the 
kingdom any longer. This writing was the 
next day approved of in parliament; and 
Richard was solemnly deposed. The throne 
being vacant, the duke of Lancaster laid 
claim to it ; and it was unanimously resolved, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 71 

Sept. 30, 1399, that he should be proclaimed 
king of England and France, and lord of 
Ireland, which was done accordingly the 
same day. Thus ended the unhappy reign 
of Richard II. He was a weak, vain, and 
contemptible prince, with scarcely one re- 
deeming quality. He died without issue. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Edward III. ? 

2. When was Richard II. crowned? 

3. State the conduct of France towards England at 
this time. 

4. What obnoxious law was passed by the first par- 
liament after the coronation of Richard it. ? 

5. What was produced by the collecting- of the tax ? 

6. What was the fate of Wat Tyler ? — of Jack Straw? 

7. At what time did this memorable insurrection take 
place ? 

8. Whom did the king- marry ? 

0. What power did the king grant to the bishops? 

10. Who got it revoked ? 

11. Who made great preparations for invading Eng- 
land ? 

12. What effect had this upon the king ? 

13. How many men composed the king's army ? 

14. What did this large army perform? 

15. What kind of feeling existed between the king's 
uncles and the king's favourites ? 

1(>. On what condition did parliament offer supplies? 

17. Who was appointed to assist the king ? 

18. What did the king do as soon as parliament ad- 
journed?* 

19. What did the king attempt ? 

20. What was discovered after the death of the earl 
of Darby ? 

21. What was done by the duke of Gloucester? 

22. What was done by this new parliament ? 

23. Who was Richard's second wife ? 



72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

24. What kind of a truce did he make with France ? 

25. How did he obtain absolute authority ? 

26. What did he do with the property of those who 
had been pardoned ? 

27. Where did he go to quell a rebellion ? 

28. What was formed in England during his absence ? 

29. Who was fixed on to succeed Richard ? 

30. When the duke of Lancaster returned from 
France, how many people joined him? 

31. Who left their stations, and shut themselves up 
in castles ? 

32. How did London and other cities receive the duke ? 

33. What did the king find on his return from Ireland ? 

34. Where did he secrete himself? 

35. What did the king offer if the duke would spare 
his life ? 

30. Where was he taken, and where imprisoned ? 

37. What did the duke compel him to do ? 

38. What was done by the king when the duke and 
others visited him? 

39. Who solemnly deposed the king? 

40. Who laid claim to the throne ? 

41. When was the duke proclaimed king? 

42. What was Richard's o-eneral character? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 73 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Henry IV. succeeded his nephew, Richard 
II. He was crowned the 1 3th of Oct., 1399. 
The parliament, meeting the day following 
the coronation, first passed an act of indem- 
nity to those who had taken up arms in fa- 
vour of the king while duke of Lancaster. 
The king also published a general pardon to 
those who opposed him, excepting the mur- 
derers of the duke of Gloucester. The par- 
liament also passed an act, settling the suc- 
cession of the crown in the house of Lancas- 
ter. This produced a bloody contest between 
the houses of Lancaster and York. Henry, 
of the house of York, in order to gain tfo 
people to his side, made many promises of 
what he would do for them. In 1400, 
a conspiracy broke out against the king, 
which was suppressed, and the chief con- 
spirators were executed ; and soon after the 
late king was assassinated. About this time, 
the Welsh renounced their allegiance to the 
king of England. 

In 1401, parliament enlarged the statute 
of premunire, which gave a great blow to 
the pope's power in England ; yet, through 
the intrigues of the clergy, an act was ob- 
tained for the burning of heretics, or Lol- 
lards, as the followers of Wickliff were 
called. William Sawtree was immediately 
after burnt alive, by virtue of the king's writ. 



74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

In 1 402, the king married Joan of Na- 
varre. This year the Scots invaded England 
twice, and were defeated at both times by 
the earl of Northumberland, and Henry 
Hotspur, his son. Soon after, a conspiracy 
broke out, headed by the earl of Northum- 
berland ; but the king gained a complete 
victory over them. Another conspiracy 
broke out, headed by the archbishop of York, 
named Richard Scroop, which was also de- 
feated by the king. Thomas Badby was the 
second person burnt alive as a heretic. 
There was in this reign a dreadful plague 
in London, which swept away above 30,000 
persons. 

Henry IV. died March 20th, 1413, in the 
14th year of his reign and in the 46th 
of his age. An indelible stain is fixed upon 
his name, as being the first burner of heretics. 

Henry V. succeeded his father, Henry IV. 
He w r as crowned April 9th, 1413. He chose 
a council of the greatest and ablest men in 
the kingdom, turned out all judges and in- 
ferior magistrates who had abused their au- 
thority, and patronised the deserving. Henry 
began to think of recovering the dominions 
w r hich the English had lost in France, and 
the great dissensions in France favoured his 
views. He demanded Normandy, &c. ; the 
negotiations were entered into without any 
hope of accommodation. When Henry was 
about sailing for that country, a plot formed 
against his person was discovered. Thomas 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 75 

Grey, the earl of Cambridge, and the late trea- 
surer were executed for participating m it. 

Henry now sailed for Normandy, and 
landed his troops. On Oct. 25, 1415, a 
noted battle was fought between the two 
armies. The French army was four times 
as large as the English, consisting of 60,000 
men ; but through the surprising bravery of 
the king and the courage of his troops, a signal 
victory was gained over the French, who 
lost many persons of rank, and upwards of 
1 0,000 privates. The English lost the duke 
of York and the earl of Suffolk, with about 
400 men. The king immediately returned 
thanks to God for so glorious a victory. This 
was called the battle of Agincourt, from a 
castle of that name near the field of battle. 

After many other battles, a treaty was at 
length concluded, May 21, 1420, wherein it 
was agreed that Henry should marry the 
Princess Catharine ; that he should be regent 
during the life of king Charles, (who was 
afflicted with lunacy,) and that after his 
death, the crown of France should descend 
to the king of England, and his heirs forever. 
The king married the princess on May 30, 
1420. The parliament, on Henry's return 
to England with his queen, told him that 
the conquest of France was the ruin of Eng- 
land. 

Henry excelled in all warlike and manly 
exercises. He was hardy, patient, and la- 
borious. Religious without superstition, just 



76 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

without rigour, and complaisant with a be- 
coming dignity ; he was alike qualified to 
engage the affections and command the es- 
teem of all around him. During his whole 
reign, he enjoyed uninterrupted popularity. 
His abilities appeared equally in the cabinet 
and in the field. He died August 3 1 st, 1 422, 
in the 10th year of his reign and the 34th 
of his age. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Richard II. ? 

2. When was Henry IV. croAvned ? 

3. What was the first act passed after the coronation ? 

4. What did the king publish ? 

5. What other act was passed at this time ? 

6. What did it produce ? 

7. What did Henry of the house of York promise ? 

8. What broke out in the year 1400? 

9. What became of the chief conspirators ? 

10. What soon after happened to Richard II., the late 
king ? 

11. What was done by the Welsh about this time ? 

12. When was the statute of premunirc enlarged ? 

13. What act was obtained through the intrigues of 
the clergy ? 

14. Who was the first martyr in England ? 

15. When did the king marry Joan of Navarre ? 

16. Who invaded England twice in 1402? 

17. By whom were they defeated? 

18. What soon after broke out in England ? 

19. By whom was it headed ? 

20. By whom was the second conspiracy headed ? 

21. Who Avas the second person burnt as a heretic ? 

22. Hoav many people in London did the plague de- 
stroy ? 

23. When did Henry die, at Avhat age, and how long 
had he reigned ? 

24. What fixed a stain upon his name ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 77 

25. Who succeeded Henry IV. ? 
2o\ When was Henry V. crowned ? 

27. Of whom were his council composed ? 

28. What was his conduct towards unjust judges? 

29. What did the king think of recovering from 
France ? 

30. What favoured his views ? 

31. What was discovered when the king was about 
to sail ? 

32. Who were executed as conspirators ? 

33. To Avhat country did the king sail? 

31. Describe the battle which soon followed. • 
35. What was done by the king immediately after 
the battle ? 

30. What was the battle called ? 

37. Recite the conditions of the treaty concluded 
May 21st, 1420. 

38. When did he marry Princess Catharine ? 

39. What did parliament tell the king on his return 
to England ? 

40. What is said of his general character ? 

41. When did he die, at what age, and how long had 
he reigned? 



78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 



CHAPTER XVII, 



Henry VI. was only 9 months old when 
he succeeded his father Henry V. He was 
crowned Dec. 6, 1422, as king of England 
and heir of France. In about two months 
afterwards, his grandfather Charles V., king 
of France, died, and Henry was proclaimed 
king of France at Paris. His pretensions to 
the French crown were, however, disputed 
by his uncle, the dauphin. During the 
minority of the young king, the duke of 
Bedford was appointed guardian of the realm. 

The French were so often defeated by the 
English, that they were brought to the brink 
of ruin ; from which they were rescued by 
the heroic exploits of Joan of Jlrc, the famous 
Maid of Orleans, who, believing herself to be 
sent of Heaven, offered her services to the 
dauphin. He gave her a strong body of 
forces, with which she drove the English 
from Orleans, where they lost about 6000 
men. She pursued them with expedition ; 
dispossessed them of many towns which they 
had taken, and made prisoners of several 
of their generals ; and having conducted 
Charles to Rheims, she caused him to be 
crowned in that city. The Maid of Orleans 
was afterwards taken prisoner in a sally 
made upon the English, and was burned as 
a witch in the market-place of Rouen, the 
14th of June, 1431. This act of cruelty is 



HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 79 

almost the only stain in the character of the 
duke of Bedford. 

In 1444, a truce was concluded between 
France and England, which was prolonged 
to 1 449. In 1 445, Henry married Margaret 
of Anjou. Having obtained an entire ascend- 
ancy over the weak mind of her husband, 
she took upon herself the administration of 
affairs, which caused much dissatisfaction 
among the people. 

A civil war broke out between the houses 
of York and Lancaster, the former having 
for their device a white rose, and the latter 
a red rose. A battle was fought near St. 
Albans, May 31st, 1455, when the royal 
army were entirely defeated. The duke of 
Somerset and a number of the nobility of the 
royal army were killed, and the kins him- 
self taken prisoner. He was treated with 
great respect, and allowed his liberty ; the 
duke of York was appointed protector. In 
1459, the quarrel broke out afresh. On 
July 6th, 1460, the carl of March gained a 
complete victory over the royal troops, killing 
10,000 men, and again taking the king pri- 
soner. A parliament was now called, and 
the duke expected that they would offer him 
the CFQwn. Being disappointed, he sent 
them a memorial asserting his claim ; but 
the parliament resolved that Henry should 
enjoy the crown during his life, after which 
it should devolve on the duke of York and 
his heirs. In the meantime, the duke of 



80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

York was absolute master of the government 
and the king's person. The queen collected 
an army; and the duke of York marched 
against her with 5000 men, expecting to be 
joined by his son; but before he came up 
with him, the queen with 18,000 troops at- 
tacked the duke, and defeated his army, and 
killed him. Margaret now found means of 
liberating the king ; but the earl of March 
| approaching with a great army, the royal 
| troops fled. The earl entered London in 
! triumph, and was proclaimed king, by the 
| title of Edward IV. 

Henry VI., without possessing any princely 
virtue or qualification, w r as entirely free from 
cruelty and revenge ; he w r as chaste, pious, 
compassionate, anil charitable ; he might 
have made a good divine, but he disgraced 
the crown. lie reigned 38 years. 

Edward IV., earl of March, son of Richard 
duke of York, was proclaimed king, March 
5th, 1461, by an extraordinary election of 
the people. On June 29th, 1461, he was 
crowned in London. He soon after called 
a parliament, which approved of the coro- 
nation, and confirmed his title. Queen 
Margaret, having received help from France, 
I entered Northumberland in 1463; but her 
\ army was defeated. Henry came privately 
I into England, but he was apprehended and 
taken to London, and confined in the Tow r er. 
King Edward granted pardons to all Henry's 
adherents, except two. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 81 

In 1464, the king married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Sir Richard Woodville. This 
match displeased the nobility, particularly 
the earl of Warwick, who resolved to 
use his utmost efforts to depose him. The 
earl raised an army, and attacked the king's 
forces at night, and took king Edward pri- 
soner ; who, however, by bribing his guard, 
found means to escape, and went to London. 
Now both parties made great preparations. 
Warwick received help from France in 
money and troops; his army amounted to 
60,000 men. He proclaimed Henry king, 
and marched in pursuit of Edward, who fled 
to Holland. In October, 1470, the earl of 
Warwick released Henry from the Tower, 
where he had been confined six years, and 
made him again king. The parliament soon 
met, and confirmed his coronation, and an- 
nulled the acts of Edward, and declared him 
a traitor and usurper, and confiscated all his 
estates. 

In 1471, king Edward returned with an 
army, landed in Yorkshire, and marched to 
London, where he was received amidst the 
shouts of the people. Henry was again sent 
to the Tower. On the 14th April, 1471, a 
fierce battle was fought between the king 
and the earl of Warwick, which continued 
from early in the morning till noon. The 
king was victorious. Another army was 
raised, and the young prince of Wales put at 
the head of it, which met with no better 



82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

success than the former. The queen and 
prince of Wales were taken. The queen 
was sent to the Tower, but was ransomed 
by Lewis XI. for 50,000 crowns. Henry 
was murdered in the Tower, and the prince 
was stabbed. 

Edward possessed great fortitude and in- 
trepidity, united with uncommon sagacity 
and penetration, but he was brutally cruel 
and severe. He died April 9th, 14S3, in 
the 42d year of his age and in the 23d of 



his reign. 



Questions. 



1. Who succeeded Henry V.? 

2. When was Henry VI. crowned ? 

3. What king died soon after? 

4. Where was he proclaimed king of France? 

5. By whom were his pretensions to the French 
crown disputed ? 

6. Who was appointed guardian of the realm ? 

7. Who Avere often defeated ? 

8. To what were the French brought ? 

9. By whom were they rescued ? 

10. What did she believe herself to be ? 

11. What did Charles give her? 

12. Whom did she drive from Orleans ? 

13. How many men did the English lose ? 

14. What other exploits did she perforin? 

15. In what city was Charles crowned ? 

1(>. What happened to the Maid of Orleans? 

17. Where was she burned ? 

18. On whose character is this act of cruelty a stain ? 

19. When was a truce concluded between England 
and France ? 

20. How long did it continue ? 

21. When did Henry marry Margaret of Anjou ? 

22. What did she take upon herself? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 83 

23. What did this cause? 

24. What broke out between the houses of York and 
Lancaster ? 

25. What were their devices ? 

26. Describe the battle near St. Albans. 

27. Who was taken prisoner ? 

28. How was the king treated? 

29. Who was appointed protector ? 

30. When did the quarrel break out afresh? 

31. Who gained a complete victory over the royal 
troops ? 

32. How many of the royal troops were killed? 

33. Who was again taken prisoner ? 

34. What did the duke expect the parliament to offer 
hi in ? 

35. Being disappointed, what did he send the par- 
liament ? 

36. What was the resolution of parliament upon this 
memorial ? 

37. AVho was absolute master of the government and 
of the king's person ? 

38. What did the queen do to release the king ? 

39. Who afterwards entered London in triumph, and 
was proclaimed king ? 

40. What was king Henry's general character? 

41. How long did he reign? 

42. Who succeeded Henry VI. to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

43. When was Edward IV. crowned ? 

44. What was done by the parliament? 

45. From whom did Margaret, the late queen, receive 
help ? 

46. Where did she land her troops ? 

47. Which army was victorious ? 

48. How did Henry come into England ? 

49. What was done with him ? 

50. To whom did king Edward grant pardons? 

51. When did the king marry Elizabeth Woodville ? 

52. How did the nobility like this match ? 

53. Who was particularly displeased at this marriage ? 

54. What did he resolve to do ? 



84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

55. How did he attack the king's forces ? 

56. What became of the king? 

57. What was now done by both parties ? 

58. From whence did Warwick receive help? 

59. How large was his army? 

60. Whom did he proclaim king ? 

61. Did Edward leave his kingdom? 

62. When did the earl of Warwick release Henry 
from the Tower ? 

63. How long had he been confined in prison ? 

64. Did parliament confirm Henry's coronation? 

65. What did the parliament declare Edward to be ? 

66. When did Edward return from Holland ? 

67. Where did he land with his army ? 

68. Where did he march ? 

60. How was he received in London? 

70. Where was Henry again sent? 

71. At what time was a fierce battle fought between 
the parties? 

72. Which party was successful ? 

73. What was the success of another battle fought 
soon after? 

74. Who were taken prisoners ? 

75. What was paid by Lewis XL for the queen's I 
ransom ? 

76. How did king Henry and the prince of Wales 
come to their death ? 

77. What was the character of Edward IV. ? 

78. When did he die, at what age, and how long had 
he reigned ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 85 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Edward V., then about 12 years old, was 
proclaimed king immediately on the death 
of his father Edward IV., April 9, 1483. 
He was never crowned, but was deposed by 
his uncle Richard, duke of Gloucester, who 
got himself proclaimed king, June 20, 1483, 
and afterwards procured the murder of his 
nephews, Edward V., and Richard, duke of 
York, in the Tower, by two ruffians who bu- 
ried them under the staircase. Edward V. 
reigned 2 months and 1 2 days. 

Richard III., (surnamed Crooked-hack,) 
duke of Gloucester, was proclaimed king on 
the 20th of June, 1483, and was crowned 
July 6th, 1483. He released from confine- 
ment a number of persons of high rank, who 
tad been imprisoned during the whole of the 
late king's short reign. Richard could not 
think himself safe while his two nephews, 
the young king, and his brother duke of York 
were living. He therefore directed one of 
his creatures to procure their death. Two 
ruffians, named Miles Forrest and John 
Dighton, were hired to perform the horrid 
act, which they accomplished by smothering 
the two young princes while asleep. 

After several fruitless attempts to over- 
throw the tvrant, the earl of Richmond came 



over from France with 2000 men, and on 
his arrival was joined by a body of the 



86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Welsh. The king's troops were commanded 
hy Richard himself. The two armies met 
near Bosworth in Leicestershire, on the 22d 
of August, 1485. After a dreadful battle, 
which lasted two hours, the king's troops 
were entirely defeated, and the king slain. 
Thus fell Richard, after reigning 2 years 
and 2 months, aged about 34 years. He 
was a cruel, treacherous, and blood-thirsty 
tyrant. It must be owned, however, that he 
had great personal courage ; possessed an 
uncommon degree of sagacity and penetra- 
tion ; and caused justice to be exactly ad- 
ministered, except where his own interest 
was concerned. He was the last king of the 
pace of the Plantagenets. 

Henry VII., earl of Richmond, succeeded 
Richard III., and was crowned Oct. 30, 
1 485. At his coronation, he appointed fifty 
archers to attend him, who were called yeo- 
men of the guard. The parliament convened 
Nov. 7th, and passed an act that the inherit- 
ance of the crown should remain in the king 
and his heirs ; and they reversed the attain- 
ders of those who had taken part with the 
king when he was only earl of Richmond. 
On 'Jan. 18th, 1486, to*the great joy of the 
people, he married the princess Elizabeth, 
eldest daughter of Edward IV.; and thus 
the two rival houses of York and Lancaster 
were united. On Sept. 20, their first son, 
Arthur, was born. The king was jealous of 
the house of York, and in consequence he 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 87 

treated his queen with much coldness. This 
conduct was the source of most of the trou- 
bles which afflicted his reign. 

A person named Lambert Simnel, who 
resembled one of king Edward's sons, and 
who had been cunningly tutored for the oc- 
casion, made his appearance in Ireland, where 
he was received as the earl of Warwick. 
The people at Dublin proclaimed him king 
of England and lord of Ireland. On Ma v. 
1 487, the duchess-dowager of Burgundy sent 
over to him 2000 German veterans. Finding 
himself at the head of a considerable army, 
Simnel now passed over to England; but 
being encountered by the king's forces, his 
troops were entirely routed, and himself and 
! his tutor taken prisoners. Simnel was par- 
i doned, and made a scullion in the king's 
kitchen. 

In June, 1492, prince Henry was born. 
In 1494, all the public laws were declared 
to be of force in Ireland. 

In 1495, another impostor, named Perkin 
Warbeck, made a descent upon the coast of 
Kent ; but not succeeding in his enterprises, 
he retired into Scotland, where he married 
a near kinswoman of the Scotish king. After 
various attempts against the peace of Eng- 
land, he was taken prisoner, and some time 
afterwards was hanged. 

In 1500, the plague raged in England, 
particularly in London, where 30,000 died 
of it. In 1501, Catharine of Spain was 



88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

married to Arthur, prince of Wales. In a 
short time the prince died, about 1 7 years j 
of age ; and Henry, the second son, was ; 
afterwards created prince of Wales. 

The king excluded the nobility entirely | 
from the administration of public affairs, 
and employed clergymen and lawyers. He 
was a wise legislator, chaste, temperate, and 
exact in the administration of justice, when 
he was not personally interested. 

He died at Richmond, April 22, 1509, in 
the 5 2d year of his age and 24th of his reign. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Edward IV. ? 

2. When did he commence his reign, and at what 
age ? 

3. Was he ever crowned? 

4. By whom was he deposed ? 

5. How long did Edward V. reign? 

6. Who succeeded Edward V. ? 

7. What was Richard III. surnamed ? 

8. When was he crowned ? 

9. Whom did he release from confinement ? 

10. Why could not the king think himself safe ? 

1 1 . WriEtt direction did he give to one of his creatures ? 

12. Who were employed to commit the horrid act ? 

13. Who came over from France ? 

14. Who joined the earl of Richmond ? 

15. Who commanded the king's troops ? 

16. When was the battle of Bosworth fought ? 

17. Which army was defeated ? 

18. Who was slain in this battle ? 

19. At what age was the king slainj and how Jong 
had he reigned? 

20. What was his general character? 

21. Of what race was he the last that reigned ? 

22. Who succeeded Richard III. ? 







HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 


89 




23. 


When was Henry VII. crowned? 






24. 


How many archers did he appoint to guard his 




person ? 






25. 


What were they called ? 






20. 


What act did parliament pass in relation to 


the 




king 


\nd the crown ? 






27. 


And what did they reverse ? 






28. 


When did he marry princess Elizabeth ? 






29. 


When was their first son born ? 






30. 


Why did Henry treat the queen coolly ? 






ai. 


Of Avhat was this conduct the cause ? 






32. 


Who appeared in Ireland ? 






33. 


Who proclaimed him king? 






34. 


Who sent over a number of Germans to aid h 


im? 




35. 


Where did Simnel go with his forces ? 






3(5. 


Which army proved victorious ? 






37. 


What became of Simnel ? 






38. 


When was prince Henry born ? 






39. 


When were all the public laws of England 


en- 




force c 


[ in Ireland ? 






40. 


What impostor now appeared ? 






41. 


Whither did he retire ? 






42. 


Whom did he marry ? 






43. 


What was his fate ? 






44. 


When did the plague rage in England ? 






45. 


How many died of it in London ? 






40. 


Whom did Arthur, prince of Wales, marry 






47. 


When did he die ? 






48. 


Who was then created prince of Wales ? 






49. 


Whom did the king exclude from the administra- 




tion o 


f public affairs ? 






50. 


Whom did he employ ? 






51. 


What was his general character ? 






52. 


When did he die, at what age, and how long 


had 




he re 


gne»d ? 





90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Henry VIII. succeeded his father Henry 
VII., at the age of 1 9 years, on April 22, 
1509; and in his person were united the rival 
houses of Lancaster and York. He married 
his brother Arthur's widow ; and they were 
crowned on June 24, 1509. He was en- 
ticed several times into wars designed merely 
to promote the interests of others, particu- 
larly of the pope. During his absence in 
France, his kingdom was invaded by an army 
of 60,000 Scots, who took several places. 
The earl of Surry engaged the Scotish army 
at Flodden, Sept. 9th, and after a bloody and 
obstinate battle, obtained a complete victory. 
In August, 1514, a treaty of peace was con- 
cluded between Lewis XII., king of France, 



and king Henry. On Feb. 12, 1516, 
queen Catharine was delivered of a princess, 
named Mary. 

In 1517, the sweating sickness raged in 
England more violently than before. At 
this time, Luther began to write against in- 
dulgences. In 1521 ,TEdward Strafford , duke 
of Buckingham, was beheaded; he was the 
last high constable of England. In the same 
year, Henry wrote a book against Luther, 
concerning the seven sacraments, &c. ; it 
was presented to the pope in full consistory, 
who bestowed on Henry and his successors, 
the title of Defenders of the Faith. This 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 

title having been afterwards confirmed by 
parliament, the kings of England have borne 
it ever since. In 1521, muskets were in- 
vented. 

In 1532, the king divorced queen Catha- 
rine, and married Anne Boleyn. The pope 
annulled his second marriage, and command- 
ed him to take Catharine for his wife again, 
and denouncing him in case of refusal. In 
return, the parliament, in 1534, passed an 
act abrogating the pope's authority in Eng- 
land ; and, declaring the king's union with 
Catharine null and void, and his marriage 
with Anne Boleyn valid, they settled the 
succession of the crown upon their issue. 
In the next parliament, the king's title of 
supreme head of the church was confirmed, 
and several other acts were passed against 
the pope, and a proclamation was issued, for- 
bidding the title of pope to be given to the 
bishop of Rome, and ordering it to be erased 
from all books, so that, if possible, no remem- 
brance of it might remain. 

In 1535, the king ordered a general visita- 
tion of the religious houses. Thomas Crom- 
well was appointed visitor-general. Shock- 
ing scenes of debauchery, lewdness, and 
impiety were discovered, and the impious 
frauds made use of by the clergy, in respect 
to relics and images, were exposed and sup- 
pressed. Great quantities of images and of 
pretended relics of saints were publicly burnt 
by the king's order. The number of monas 



92 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

teries suppressed was 643, together with 90 
colleges, 2374 chantries, 3 chapels, and 110 
hospitals. Their yearly value Was estimated 
at £152,517. 

The king had been married to Anne Bo- 
leyn hut about three years when he became 
jealous of her. She was accused of criminal 
conduct; and was beheaded on May 19th, 
1 536. All impartial persons have agreed in 
believing her innocent. The next day he 
married Jane Seymour, with whom he had 
fallen in love before the execution of Anne. 
She bore him one son, Edward, and died. 
Catharine's daughter Mary, and Elizabeth, 
daughter of Anne, were illegitimated by an 
act of parliament. 

In January, 1540, the king married Anne, 
sister to the duke of Cleves, whom he di- 
vorced in about six months. He next mar- 
ried Catharine Howard, niece to the duke 
of Norfolk. She was soon accused of crimi- 
nal behaviour, and was beheaded on Tower- 
hill, Feb. 12, 1542. In this year Ireland 
was erected into a kingdom, and u king of 
Ireland" was added to the king's title. In 
July, 1543, the king took his sixth wife, the 
lady Catharine Parr, who survived him. 

A war broke out between England and 
France, and Henry went to France, Sept. 
1 544. This war continued, without import- 
ant results on either side, till 1546, when a 
treaty was concluded. 

Henry was fond of pomp and show, and 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 93 

was an utter stranger to all the finer feelings 
of the soul. He possessed natural abilities, 
but they were little improved by education. 
He died Jan. 29, 1547, in the 38th year 
of his reign, and the 56th of his age. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Henry VII. ? 

2. What were united in the person of Henry VIII. ? 

3. Who was his first queen ? 

4. When were the king - and queen crowned ? 

5. For what purpose was he enticed into wars ? 

0. By whom was his kingdom invaded during his ab- 
sence in France ? 

7. How large was the Scolish army ? 

8. Where, when, and by whom was the Scotish army 
defeated ? 

0. When was a treaty of peace concluded between 
England and France ? 

10. When was the princess Mary born ? 

11. What disease prevailed in England in 1517? 

12. At what time did Luther begin to write against 
indulgences ? 

13. When was Stafford, duke of Buckingham, be- 
headed ? 

14. Of what was he the last ? 

15. When did the king write his book against Luther ? 

16. To whom was it presented ? 

17. What title did the pope bestow on Henry and his 
successors ? 

18. How was this title confirmed ? 

19. When were muskets invented ? 

20. Who was the king's second queen ? 

21. When did he divorce queen Catharine and marry 
Anne Boleyn ? 

22. What was done by the pope in relation to this 
marriage ? 

23. What effect did this conduct of the pope produce 
in parliament in relation to his power in England ? 



94 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

24. What did parliament declare in relation to the di- 
vorce and marriage ? 

25. What title was given to the king by parliament ? 

26. What proclamation was issued against the pope ? 

27. What was ordered by the king in 1535 ? 

28. Who was appointed visitor-general ? 

29. What were discovered and exposed? 

30. What were publicly burned by direction of the 
king ? 

31. Tell the number of monasteries and other houses 
which were suppressed. 

32. What was their yearly value ? 

33. Of whom did the king become jealous ? 

34. When was queen Anne beheaded ? 

35. What do impartial persons believe regarding her ? 

36. Whom did Henry next marry ? 

37. What act affecting Mary and Elizabeth was pass- 
ed by parliament ? 

38. Who was the mother of Elizabeth ? 

39. Who was the king's fourth Avife ? 

40. How soon did he divorce her ? 

41. Who was his fifth wife ? 

42. When was she beheaded? 

43. When was Ireland erected into a kingdom, and 
what was added to the king's title ? 

44. Who was the sixth queen? 

45. When did the king marry her? 

46. What war occurred about this time ? 

47. When did the king go to France ? 

48. When was this war concluded ? 

49. What was the king's general character ? 

50. When did he die, at what age, and how long had 
he reigned ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 95 



CHAPTER XX. 

Edward VI., the only son of Henry VIII. 
by his queen Jane Seymour, succeeded his 
father, at the age of 9 years and 3 months. 
He was crowned Feb. 20, 1547. The ma- 
nagement of the affairs of the nation was 
committed, in pursuance of king Henry's will, 
to sixteen executors, or regents, and twelve 
counsellors: who elected Edward Seymour, 
earl of Hertford, the protector of the realm 
and governor of the king. Seymour was un- 
cle to the king; and was soon after created 
duke of Somerset. He instilled the prin- 
ciples of Luther info the mind of the king- 
and applied himself with great diligence to 
complete the work of the reformation in 
England. In Edward's reign, many learned 
reformers took refuge in England, on whom 
the king bestowed pensions. In 1553, the 
young king fell into a consumption, and died. 
July G, in the 16th year of his age, after 
having reigned 6 years, 5 months, and 9 days. 

He was a prince of excellent qualities and 
fine accomplishments. He kept a journal, 
which is preserved in the British Museum, 
in which he regularly entered all the import- 
ant transactions of his reign. He was re- 
markably pious, and continued attached to 
the principles of the reformation, which he 
had imbibed from his uncle, and which made 



96 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

great progress during his reign. Edward is 
celebrated by historians for the beauty of his 
person, the sweetness of his disposition, and 
the extent of his knowledge. Before he had 
attained his 16th year, he understood the 
Greek, Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish 
languages ; he was versed in the sciences of 
logic, music, and natural philosophy, and was 
master of all the disputed theological ques- 
tions, He has been styled a prodigy of learn- 
ing. 

Mary, daughter of Henry VIII., succeeded 
to the throne of England on the death of 
Edward VI., which happened July 6, 1553. 
A great effort was made by the duke of Nor- 
thumberland, Suffolk, and others, in favour 
of lady Jane Grey, but their designs were 
frustrated . Mary was crowned Oct. 1 , 1 5 5 3 . 
A parliament was called, which legitimated 
Mary, by rescinding the divorce of her 
mother. On Feb. 12, 1554, Lady Jane 
Grey and her husband were beheaded. On 
July 19, 1554, Mary married Philip of 
Spain ; he was 29 years old and she was 38. 
Through Spanish influence, she was drawn 
into a war with France, and lost all the pos- 
sessions in that country which had belonged 
to England since the reign of Edward III. 
During her reign, the papal religion was re- 
established in England, and its supremacy 
was signalized by sanguinary cruelties against 
the Protestants. In the space of three years, 
during which the persecutions lasted, 277 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 97 

persons were burned to death for heresy; 
and many were punished by imprisonments, 
fines, and confiscations. In consequence of 
these horrid transactions, she acquired the title 
of the bloody Mary. She was wholly desti- 
tute of every agreeable qualification. She 
died Nov. 17, 1558, in the 43d year of her 
age, and 6th of her reign. 

Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII. and 
Anne Boleyn, ascended the throne Nov. 17, 
1558, (being then 25 years of age,) pursuant 
to the order of succession settled by the 
king's will and authorized by act of parlia- 
ment, and was crowned Jan. 1 5, 1 559. She 
repealed the laws enacted by her sister Mary 
in favour of popery, and re-established the 
Protestant religion. She assisted the Protes- 
tants in France, Scotland, and the Low 
Countries, and enabled them to triumph 
against their cruel and relentless persecutors. 

Mary queen of Scots and her husband had, 
by instigation of Henry II. of France, assumed 
the title and arms of England. This assump- 
tion caused Elizabeth to look on Mary as a 
dangerous rival. In 1568, the queen of 
Scots, being defeated by the malecontents of 
her own nation, fled into England, where 
she was Jtept a prisoner for many years. Plots 
having been laid by the priests and Jesuits 
against the life of Elizabeth, an association 
was formed in England to prosecute to death 
such as should make any attempt against her 
person or government. Parliament approved 



98 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

and confirmed this association, and passed a 
severe act against the popish priests and 
Jesuits, whereby they were required to leave 
the kingdom : those who returned were to 
be adjudged guilty of high-treason. A short 
time after, Elizabeth made an alliance with 
James VI. of Scotland, for their mutual de- 
fence and the security of the Protestant reli- 
gion. In 1585, she sent Sir Francis Drake 
to America. In Feb. 1587, Mary queen of 
Scots was beheaded, for being concerned, by 
letter, in a secret plot for taking the life of 
Elizabeth. 

In 1588, Philip II. of Spain, encouraged 
by pope Sixtus V., sent a great fleet (called 
the invincible armada) to invade England. It 
consisted of 130 large ships, 20 caravals, and 
1 salves, having more than 20,000 soldiers 
on board. The English showed the utmost 
readiness to defend their queen and country. 
Elizabeth fitted out a large fleet, and sent it 
under the command of Lord Howard to the 
coast of Flanders, to prevent the prince of 
Parma from joining the invaders. On the 
27th of July, 1588^ the Spanish fleet came 
to an anchor off Calais, to await the arrival 
of the prince of Parma. The English fleet, 
now consisting of 1 40 ships, followed them, 
and at night the English admiral sent eight 
fireships among the Spanish vessels, which so 
frightened the Spaniards, that they cut their 
cables and put to sea in the utmost confusion. 
The English took or sunk fourteen of the 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 99 

Spanish ships, two of them containing a 
large sum of money. The Spaniards made 
the best of their way home, but on their 
passage they lost many of their ships, and 
others were much injured. Of the whole 
number, only 53 returned to Spain. On re- 
ceiving the news, Elizabeth went in state to 
St. Paul's, to thank Almighty God for this 
great victory. In 1594, the Spanish govern- 
ment secretly offered 40,000 crowns to pro- 
cure the death of Elizabeth by poison or any 
other means. The queen's physician was 
bribed to become the instrument. 

Elizabeth was the great bulwark of the 
Protestant religion. She was highly com- 
mendable for her general regard to the im- 
partial administration of justice, and even for 
her rigid economy. She was wise and stead- 
fast in her principles of government, and 
was sustained by an able and sagacious mi- 
nistry. Commerce and trade were protected 
by her, and they greatly flourished. She 
built the Royal Exchange. 

She died March 24th, 1603, in the 70th 
year of her age, after a glorious reign of 44 
years, 4 months, and 8 days. Her death is 
supposed to have been hastened by the cir- 
cumstances attending the execution of the 
earl of 'Essex. He was a young nobleman 
of generous sentiments and distinguished 
abilities; but rash, headstrong, and violent 
in his temper. Being once engaged in a dis- 
pute with the queen, he so provoked her by 



100 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

his disrespectful behaviour, that she gave 
him a box on the ear; upon which Essex 
clapped his hand on his sword, and swore he 
would not bear such treatment even were it 
from Henry VIII. himself. He was, how- 
ever, soon restored to favour, and was sent 
on an expedition to Ireland ; on his return, 
he was again disgraced, and subjected to so 
many indignities that he endeavoured to 
raise an insurrection ; but failing in his at- 
tempt, he was seized, tried, condemned, and 
executed, Feb. 25,1601. Elizabeth showed 
extreme reluctance to sign the warrant for his 
death ; but believing his obstinacy to be so 
great that he scorned to apply to her for a 
ardon, she was prevailed on to consent to 
is execution. When she afterwards dis- 
covered that Essex had actually solicited a 
pardon, but that the person employed by him 
for that purpose had designedly neglected 
to execute the commission, the queen was 
seized with so profound a melancholy that 
she rejected all consolation ; and, after lan- 
guishing thus for ten days, she expired. She 
was buried in Westminster Abbey. 

Questions. 

1. AVho succeeded Henry VIII. ? 

2. How old was Edward VI. ? 

3. When was he crowned ? 

4. To whom was the management of the affairs of the 
nation committed ? 

5. Who was appointed protector of the realm and 
governor of the king 1 

6. What was Seymour's relation to the king ? 



v 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 101 

7. What was he afterwards created ? 

8. What did he instil into the mind of the king ? 

9. To what did he apply himself? 

10. Who took refuge in England during Edward's 
reign ? 

11. What was bestowed on them by the king? 

12. When was the young king taken sick? 

13. When did he die, at what age, and in what year 
of his reign ? 

14. What did the king enter in his journal ? 

15. Where is this journal now preserved ? 

16. What is said of his general character? 

17. Who succeeded Edward VI. ? 

18. Who was queen Mary's rival ? 

19. Who supported lady Jane Grey ? 

20. When was Mary crowned ? 

21. What Avas soon after done by parliament? 

22. When were lady Jane Grey and her husband 
beheaded ? 

23. Whom did Mary marry ? 

24. When did Mary marry Philip of Spain ? 

25. What were their ages at the time of marriage ? 
2(5. With whom was she engaged in war ? 

27. Through whose influence ? 

28. What did she lose by this war ? 

29. How long had these possessions belonged to 
England ? 

30. What was re-established in England during her 
reign ? 

31. By what was its supremacy signalized? 

32. How long were the Protestants persecuted ? 

33. How many of them were burned to death ? 

34. What other modes of punishment were adopted ? 

35. What name did she acquire by these horrid trans- 
actions ? « 

30. Of what was she destitute ? 

37. When did she die, at what age, and how long 
had she reigned ? 

38. Who succeeded Mary to the throne of England? 

39. What was Elizabeth's age when she ascended 
the throne ? 



102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

40. When was she crowned ? 

41. What did she repeal? 

42. What did she re-establish ? 

43. Whom did she assist ? 

44. Who had taken the title and arms of England ? 

45. What did this cause ? 

46. When was Mary, queen of Scots, defeated by 
the malecontents of Scotland ? 

47. Where did she fly ? 

48. In what condition was she kept? 

49. By whom, and for what purpose, were several 
plots formed ? 

50. For what purpose was an association formed in 
England ? 

51. What was done by parliament respecting this as- 
sociation ? 

52. What cruel act was passed against the Papists ? 

53. For what purpose did the queen form an alliance 
with Scotland ? 

54. When did she send Sir Francis Drake to Ame- 
rica ? 

55. When was Mary, queen of Scots, beheaded ? 
5(5. For what was she beheaded ? 

57. When did the king of Spain send a fleet to invade 
England ? 

58. What title was given to this fleet ? 

59. Of what did it consist ? 

60. Who was sent with a large fleet to the coast of 
Flanders? 

61. For what purpose was it sent? 

62. How large was the English fleet ? 

63. Describe the scene which followed. 

64. Where did the queen go to thank God for this 
victory ? 

65. What reward did Spain offer to procure the death 
of Elizabeth? 

66. Who was bribed to perform this horrid act ? 

67. Who was the great bulwark of the Protestant re- 
ligion? 

68. What did she establish in her dominions ? 

69. What was done by her for trade and commerce ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 103 

70. Who built the Royal Exchange ? 

71. What was her general character? 

72. When did she die, at what age, and how long- 
had she reigned ? 

73. What is supposed to have hastened her death? 

74. Who was the earl of Essex ? 

75. What was his behaviour during a dispute with 
the queen ? 

76. Why and when was he executed ? 

77. Why did Elizabeth consent to his execution ? 

78. What did she afterwards discover ? 

79. What was the effect of the discovery ? 

80. Where was she buried? 



CHAPTER XXL 

On the death of queen Elizabeth, March 
24, 1603, James VI. of Scotland succeeded 
to the English throne by the name of, James 
I., being then in the 37th year of his age. 
He had been king of Scotland ever since he 
was a year old, on the deposition of queen 
Mary his mother, who was the daughter of 
James V., son to James IV., by Margaret, 
eldest daughter of the English king lienry 
VII. He set out from Edinburgh, April 5, 
1603, and was received in England with 
such extravagant expressions of joy, that an 
honest Scotchman said bluntly, " This people 
will spoil a good king." 

On the 7th of May he arrived in London. 
On the 19th of May the parliament met, 
and the king proposed the union of the two 



104 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

kingdoms, England and Scotland, into one ; 
but parliament opposed it. During his reign 
no important act was passed by parliament. 
A continual misunderstanding prevailed be- 
tween the king and the parliaments, a num- 
ber of which were convened, but on dis- 
agreeing with the king were soon prorogued. 
The people thought that the king wished to 
infringe on their rights and privileges. At 
one time, on the prorogation of the parlia- 
ment, James imprisoned several of its mem- 
bers. This open opposition between the 
king and parliament produced the two par- 
ties, which, in after time, were distinguished 
by the name of Whig and Tory. 

A scheme was entered into by the Papists 
for blowing up the parliament-house with 
gunpowder on the 5th of November, 1605, 
when the king should be haranguing the 
two houses; but the plot was happily dis- 
covered by means of a letter sent to lord 
Monteagle, who was therein advised to absent 
himself from parliament. Several persons 
were executed, and among the rest Guy 
Fawkes, who was to set fire to the train. 

King James's usual occupation was the 
study of divinity, to which he was so attach- 
ed that he seems to have preferred it to the 
cares of government. He avoided every 
thing that might involve him in quarrels 
with his neighbours, which course of conduct 
was in the highest degree advantageous to 
his people. The country became enriched 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 105 

by commerce ; and the people made consi- 
derable progress in ascertaining their liber- 
ties. During his reign, Spenser, Sidney, 
Shakspeare, Ben Jonson, and Bacon flou- 
rished. 

James was possessed of considerable vir- 
tues ; but his generosity bordered on pro- 
fusion, his learning on pedantry, his pacific 
disposition on pusillanimity, and his wisdom 
on cunning. He died March 27, 1 625, in 
the 59th year of his age, and the 2 2d of his 
reign over England. He was the first of the 
Stuart family who reigned in England. 

Charles Stuart I. succeeded his father, 
James L, March 27, 1625; and in May fol- 
lowing he married Henrietta Maria of 
France. The new queen arrived in Eng- 
land, and the marriage was consummated at 
Canterbury, June 10, 1625. The king 
granted a pardon to a number of Romish 
priests who had been condemned to die. 

On Feb. 2, 1626, Charles was crowned. 
The parliament met on the 6th. To prevent 
their being chosen for this parliament, the 
leading members against the court were 
made sheriffs. This parliament, however, 
proved no more favourable to the king than 
former ones. Great complaints were made 
by its members respecting the public griev- 
ances. The king sent for both houses to 
Whitehall, and severely reprimanded them, 
rebuking their animosity towards the duke 
of Buckingham, and upbraiding them for not 



106 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

granting him supplies ; and in the end he j 
said, "Remember that parliaments are al- j 
together in my power, for their calling, sit- 
ting, and dissolution ; therefore as I find the | 
fruits of them good or evil, they are to con- 
tinue or not to be." This did not intimidate the 
commons, who returned to their house, and 
drew up and presented to the king a remon- 
strance against the duke, representing him 
as the cause of all the grievances of the king- 
dom. They further remonstrated against 
the levying of tonnage and poundage, which 
had been exacted by the king ever since his 
accession. On June 15, he dissolved the 
parliament, and ordered all who had copies 
of this remonstrance to burn them. The 
duke remained in the king's favour, until, on 
the 23d of August, 1628, he was stabbed by 
a lieutenant in the army. 

Early in 1 628 the parliament met. During 
its first session, the commons prevailed on 
the king to give, in return for five subsidies, 
his full and solemn assent to that celebrated 
instrument, the second great charter of the 
liberties of England, known by the name of 
the Petition of Right. In the summer, par- 
liament was prorogued. It met again in 
January, 1629. In the mean time, the king 
had continued, in direct violation of the Pe- 
tition of Right, to raise tonnage and pound- 
age without the consent of parliament. Sir 
John Eliot proposed a resolution condemn- 
ing the unconstitutional imposition. After 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 107 

passing several strong resolutions, the house 
adjourned ; but on the day appointed for its 
meeting, it was dissolved by the king ; and 
several of its most eminent members were 
committed to prison. 

For eleven years, Charles governed with- 
out a parliament. All the promises of the 
king were violated without scruple or shame. 
The Petition of Right was set at naught; 
taxes were raised by the royal authority; 
patents of monopoly were granted. The 
Puritans were persecuted with cruelty wor- 
thy of the Inquisition. They were impri- 
soned ; they were whipped ; their ears were 
cut off; their noses were slit; their cheeks 
were branded with red-hot iron. But the 
hardy sect grew up and flourished, in spite 
of every thing that seemed likely to stunt it. 
John Hampden, the great leader of the op- 
position party, refused to pa}^ an illegal tax 
which had been laid ; and he resolved to 
bring to a solemn hearing the great contro- 
versy between the people and the crown. In 
the year 1 636, this great cause came on in the 
Exchequer Chamber before all the judges of 
England. The opinion of the bench was 
divided. Though the judges held their situ- 
ation only during the royal pleasure, the 
majority against IJampden'was the least pos- 
sible ; seven out of the twelve judges deciding 
against him. At this time the estate and 
the person of every man who had opposed 
the court were at its mercy. 



108 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

In April, 1640, another parliament met; 
but in a few days it was angrily dissolved by 
the king, who immediately began anew his 
system of oppression and extortion. At this 
time Charles marched northward against the 
Scots, who advanced into England to meet 
him. His campaign was short and ignomi- 
nious; the English soldiers ran away; the 
four northern counties of England were oc- 
cupied by the Scotch army, and the king 
retired to York. The game of tyranny was 
now up. Charles made a truce with the 
Scots, and summoned a parliament. 

This great and memorable parliament met 
on the 3d of November, 1640. On Jan. 3, 
1641, Charles sent his attorney-general to 
the house of peers, to impeach Lord Kim- 
bolton, Hampden, Pym, and Hollis, and two 
other members of the house of commons, 
of high-treason. An officer was sent to seal 
up their papers, &c, and the king having 
sent a sergeant-at-arms to the house of com- 
mons to demand them, the commons refused 
to surrender them. Attended by a number 
of armed men, the king went the next day 
in person to seize them. Leaving his guard 
at the door, he entered the speaker's chair, 
and made a speech, the members crying out 
at the same time, ib Privilege ! privilege !" 
Parliament impeached the attorney-general, 
and set a guard about the Tower. On May 
20, the commons voted, " 1st. That it ap- 
pears that the king, seduced by wicked coun- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 109 

sels. intends to make war against the parlia- 
ment ; 2d, That whensoever the king makes 
war upon the parliament, it is a breach of 
the trust reposed in him by his people, con- 
trary to his oath, and tending to the dissolu- 
tion of the government ; 3d, That whosoever 
shall serve or assist him in such war are trai- 
tors by the fundamental laws of the king- 
dom." 

On the 1 5th of June, 1 641, the king grant- 
ed a number of commissions of array for 
levying troops, and the parliament drew up 
a paper against them. On July 12, the 
commons voted, with the concurrence of the 
lords, that an army should be raised, the 
command of which was given to the earl of 
Essex. On Aug. 22, the king in a solemn 
manner set up his standard at Nottingham, 
having by proclamation previously command- 
ed all men who could bear arms to repair to 
it. On Oct. 23, a great battle was fought 
at Ecjgehill. Both sides claimed the victory. 
Many battles were fought between the two 
armies, but none proved decisive until June 
14, 1645, when the famous battle of Naseby 
was fought, which ended the contest be- 
tween the king and parliament. The royal 
troops were completely routed, most of the 
infantry were made prisoners, and a great 
number of officers and gentlemen of distinc- 
tion were killed. All the cannon and bag- 
gage were taken, with 8,000 arms and other 
rich booty, among which was the king's 

10 



110 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

cabinet, containing his secret papers. On 
June 22, 1645, Oxford surrendered, and the 
king fled to the Scotch army for protection. 
Thus the whole kingdom was subjected to 
the obedience of the two houses. Some ar- 
rears being due the Scots, the parliament 
agreed to pay them s£ 400,000 to give up the 
king and go home. On Jan. 30, 1646, the 
king was delivered to the parliament at 
Newcastle. The army and parliament soon 
after quarrelled. The parliament was dis- 
posed to accommodate matters with the king ; 
but the army would not trust him, nor listen 
to any proposals of reconciliation, and were 
determined to bring him to a trial. 

On Dec. 4, 1647, the parliament ad- 
journed, after voting that the concessions 
which the king had made were sufficient 
grounds for settling the peace of the king- 
doms. When they were about meeting again, 
they found the avenues blocked up by sol- 
diers, w r ho seized 41 of the members as they 
attempted to go into the house ; and the next 
day they denied admittance to about 100 
more. The commons then created, by ordi- 
nance, a high court in order to try the king. 

The trial commenced Dec. 20, 1647, the 
court sitting in Westminster hall. Bradshaw, 
a lawyer, was chosen president. The sub- 
stance of the charge was, " That the king had 
endeavoured to set up a tyrannical power, and 
to that end had raised and maintained a cruel 
war against the parliament." The king de« 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Ill 

niecl the authority of the court, and refused 
to answer the charge. Sentence of death was 
passed upon him ; pursuant to which, he was 
beheaded Jan. 30, 1 648, on a scaffold, erected 
in the street near the windows of the ban- 
queting-house at Whitehall. His body was 
buried in St. George's chapel. He was 
beheaded in the 48th year of his age, and 
( 23d of his reign. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded queen Elizabeth? 

2. When did his reign begin ? 

3. When did he set out from Scotland ? 

4. How was he received by the people when he ar- 
rived id England? 

5. When did he arrive in London ? 

6. What did king James propose to parliament ? 

7. How did parliament treat his proposition? 

8. Was any important act passed during his reign ? 

9. What prevailed between the king and parliament? 

10. What did the people think ? 

11. What two great parties did this open opposition 
produce ? 

12. What scheme was entered into by the Papists ? 

13. How was it discovered ? 

14. What was the fate of the conspirators ? 

15. What was king James's usual occupation ? 

16. What did he avoid ? 

17. What was the effect of this course of conduct ? 

18. In what did the people make considerable pro- 
gress ? , 

19. Name some of the distinguished persons of his 
reign. 

20. What was James's general character? 

21. When did James die, at what age, and how long 
had he reigned ? 

22. Of what race was he the first who reigned in 
England ? 



112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

23. Who succeeded James I. to the throne of Eng- 
land ? 

24. When did king Charles commence his reign ? 

25. Whom did he marry? 

26. Whom did he pardon ? 

27. What steps were taken to prevent leading men 
who were opposed to the king from being chosen mem- 
bers of parliament ? 

28. Was this parliament more favourable than former 
ones ? 

29. What complaints were made by it ? 

30. What did the king do ? 

31. What did he rebuke? 

32. What did he say ? 

33. Against what did the commons remonstrate ? 

34. When did the king dissolve his parliament ? 

35. What did he order to be done with the remon- 
strance ? 

36. When did parliament again meet ? 

37. What did the king give in return for five sub- 
sidies ? 

38. When was parliament prorogued, and when did 
it meet ? 

39. What had the king continued to do, in violation 
of the Petition of Right ? 

40. What did Sir John Eliot propose ? 

41. What did the house pass before they adjourned ? 

42. When was it dissolved I 

43. How were some of its members punished ? 

44. How long did Charles govern without a parlia- 
ment ? 

45. What did he violate ? 

46. Who were persecuted ? 

47. Describe their sufferings. 

48. What became of the hardy sect ? 

49. Who was John Hampden ? 

50. What did he refuse to pay ? 

51. What did he resolve to bring to a solemn hearing? 

52. When and before whom did the cause come on ? 

53. By what tenure did the judges hold their situa- 
tions ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 113 

54. How many decided against Hampden ? 

55. What were now at the mercy of the court ? 
5(5. When did another parliament meet ? 

57. How soon was it dissolved ? 

58. What did the king continue to do ? 

59. Against whom did Charles march? 

60. Describe the campaign. 

61. After making a truce with the Scots, what did 
Charles summon ? 

62. When did a great and memorable parliament 
meet ? 

63. For what was the attorney-general sent to the 
house of peers, Jan. 8, 1611 ? 

64. For what was the serge an t-at-arms sent to the 
house of commons ? 

(55. Did the commons surrender the accused members ? 

66. Describe the king's visit to the house the next 
day. 

67. What did parliament do ? 

68. What resolutions were passed bv parliament on 
May 20, 1641 I 

69. What did the king grant, June 15, 1641 ? 

70. What was done by parliament against these 



commissions 



71. What was done by parliament, July 12, 1611 ? 

72. What was set up by the king, Aug. 22, 1641 ? 

73. When was the battle of Edgehill fought? 

74. Describe the battle of Naseby, and tell when it 
happened. 

75. When did Oxford surrender, and where did the 
king seek protection? 

76. To what was the whole kingdom now subject? 

77. What arrangement was made between parliament 
and the Scots ? 

78. Wtyere and when was the king delivered to par- 
liament ? 

79. What was the difference between the army and 
parliament ? 

'SO. What was passed in parliament, Dec. 4, 1647? 
81. What was done by the soldiers the two following 
days ? 

i> ""^ ^ 10*" 



114 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

82. What did parliament create by ordinance? 

83. When did the king's trial commence ? 

84. What was the substance of the charge ? 

85. What was the sentence of court ? 

86. When was king Charles I. beheaded? 

87. Where was he beheaded ? 

88. At Avhat age was he beheaded, and how long had 
he reig-ned ? 



CHAPTER XXII. 

COMMONWEALTH. 

The confusion which overspread England 
after the execution of Charles L, proceeded 
as well from the rising spirit of liberty as 
from the dissolution of the civil and ecclesi- 
astical authority which the nation had been 
accustomed to obey. The royalist nobles 
and gentry, being degraded from their au- 
thority and plundered of their property, were 
enraged at the republicans, and they warmly 
attached themselves to the cause of the son 
of Charles. The republicans depended prin- 
cipally upon the support of the army; of 
which Oliver Cromwell was the head. 
Cromwell, who was equally qualified to gain 
the affections and the confidence of the peo- 
ple, possessed vast influence, both civil and 
military. 

The council of state appointed Cromwell 
lord-lieutenant of Ireland. He immediately 
went to that country with a large army, of 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 115 

which one portion was defeated at Dublin. 
He hastened to Tredah,a town well fortified, 
near Dublin, and besieged it. He soon 
made a breach, and all opposition being 
overborne by the furious valour of his troops, 
the town was taken sword in hand, and no 
quarter given. A tremendous slaughter en- 
sued, scarcely one being left. The inhabit- 
ants of every town before which Cromwell 
presented himself, now opened its gates 
without opposition, and surrendered. 

While Cromwell proceeded with such 
uninterrupted success in Ireland, (which in 
the short space of nine months was completely 
subdued,) a new scene of victory and triumph 
was preparing for him in Scotland. Fairfax 
resigned his commission, and Cromwell was 
declared captain-general of all the forces in 
England. He then marched into Scotland 
with 16,000 men. Lesley, an experienced 
general, had command of the Scotish army ; 
but on Sept. 3d, 1651, Cromwell totally de- 
feated the Scots at Worcester. He after- 
wards went to London, and was congratu- 
lated by the house of commons, the council 
of state, and the lord mayor. 
*On the 19th of April, 1653, Cromwell 
called a council of officers to debate about 
the government. While they were sitting, 
a messenger informed them that the parlia- 
ment had framed a bill to continue its exist- 
ence till November of the next year ; where- 
upon Cromwell went immediately to West- 



116 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

minster, and told the members of parliament 
to disperse. He then ordered his men to 
clear the house of all the members, and 
caused the doors to be locked. * 

On Dec. 16, 1653, in the Court of Chan- 
cery, in Westminster, Cromwell was solemn- 
ly invested with the title of protector of the 
commonwealth of England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. He was then 54 years of age. 
He immediately applied himself to settling 
public affairs. He filled the courts of West- 
minster with able judges, and manifested an 
unalterable resolution to maintain liberty of 
I conscience. He gave the command of the 
J forces in Scotland to general Monk, and sent 
I his son Henry to govern Ireland. By an 
ordinance, dated April 12, 1654, he united 
England and Scotland, fixing the number 
of representatives for the latter at thirty; 
and soon after he also annexed Ireland. 

The protector called a parliament, Sept. 3. 

He attended in great state, and made a long 

speech. The parliament debated whether 

| the supreme power should be invested in 

j one man or in parliament. This so alarmed 

; the protector that he gave them a sharp re- 

! proof, and no member was afterwards per- 

\ mitted to go into the house until he had 

taken an oath to be faithful to the protector 

and his government. He, however, soon 

dissolved the parliament. 

Cromwell sent fleets to the West Indies 
and the Mediterranean, under admirals Penn 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 117 

and Blake, and the achievements they per- 
formed greatly elevated the reputation of 
the protector. Sept. 17, 1656, another par- 
liament was called ; from which about 200 
of the members were excluded, in conse- 
quence of refusing to take the oath prescribed. 
In the spring of 1657, a legislative govern- 
ment was proposed, and the crown was 
offered to the protector. But he replied that 
he could not with a good conscience accept 
it. On the 20th of Jan., 1648, the parlia- 
ment convened again, but the two houses 
disagreeing, the protector again dissolved 
them. Aug. 6, 1658, Mrs. Cleypole, his 
favourite daughter, died. This event pro- 
duced a marked effect upon him. 

Cromwell died Sept. 3, 1658, in the 60th 
year of his age. The character of Cromwell 
is beginning to be justly appreciated. He 
was emphatically a man. He possessed in 
an eminent degree that masculine and full- 
grown robustness of mind, that equally dif- 
fused intellectual health, which has pecu- 
liarly characterized the great men of England. 
He exhibited in his demeanour the simple 
and natural nobleness of a man neither 
ashamed of his origin nor vain of his eleva- 
tion. «He placed England in the first rank 
of Christian powers ; and taught every nation 
to value her friendship and dread her enmity. 
He went down to his grave in the fulness 
of power and fame. 

Richard Cromwell succeeded his father as 



118 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

lord protector. He summoned a parlia- 
ment, which met at Westminster, Jan. 27, 
1659; and which, after confirming his au- 
thority, were proceeding to other matters, 
when their deliberations were suddenly in- 
terrupted by the cabals of the army. Rich- 
ard had unwarily given his consent to the 
calling a council of officers. The parliament 
voted that there should be no council of offi- 
cers during its sitting. This vote brought 
matters to a rupture. The officers hastened 
to Richard, and compelled him to dissolve 
the parliament ; and by this act the protector 
was by every one considered as effectually 
deposed. Soon after, he signed his deposition 
in form. The council of officers, in connec- 
tion with the Rump parliament, which they 
had restored, now possessed the supreme au- 
thority. A general discontent prevailed among 
the people. An insurrection broke out, which 
was suppressed ; and the parliament were ex- 
pelled. The officers then elected twenty- 
three persons as a committee of safety, and 
invested them with supreme power. 

Under pretence of restoring the parliament, 
general Monk left Scotland, (where he had 
governed since the commencement of the 
commonwealth, with honour to himself and 
happiness to the people,) and marched his 
troops to London. A new parliament was 
called. The royalist members entered with- 
out opposition, and constituted a majority. 
They repealed the proceedings of the Kump 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 119 

parliament. General Monk declared in fa- 
vour of the king. An insurrection was at- 
tempted. The republican members of the 
Rump parliament, finding themselves in the 
minority, were seized with despair, and en- 
deavoured to infuse the same feeling into 
the army, saying that they and the army 
might expect the severest vengeance at the 
hands of the royalists. Lambert, one of the 
officers, suddenly made his escape from the 
Tower, and the troops flocked to his banner ; 
so that it w 7 as with the greatest difficulty that 
Monk restrained him, and quenched the 
rising flame. Soon after the parliament met, 
a letter was received from the king by the 
hands of Sir John Granville. It was re- 
ceived by acclamation, and, by a vote of par- 
liament, the letter, with the declaration ac- 
companying it, was published. The king 
offered a general amnesty to all persons 
whatsoever and without any exception. He 
also promised liberty of conscience to the 
nation, sfi 5 0,0 00 were conferred upon the 
king ; and a committee of lords and com- 
mons was despatched to invite him to return 
and take possession of the government. 
When the king arrived at Dover from Hol- 
land, he was met by general Monk, whom 
he cordially embraced. The king entered 
London on the 29th of May, 1660, which 
was his birthday. Here closes the Common- 
wealth. 



120 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

Questions. 

1. What overspread England ? 

2. From what did it proceed ? 

3. Who attached themselves to the cause of the son 
of their late monarch ? 

4. On what did the republicans principally depend ? 

5. What is said of Oliver Cromwell? 

6. To what office was Cromwell appointed by the 
council of state ? 

7. How did he fulfil this appointment ? 

8. What town was taken sword in hand ? 

9. How long was Cromwell in subduing Ireland ? 

10. What was Cromwell appointed ? 

11. When did he defeat the Scots at Worcester? 

12. Who congratulated Cromwell when he went to 
London ? 

13. When did he call a council of officers, and for 
what purpose ? 

14. What message did they receive while sitting? 

15. What did this cause Cromwell to do ? 

16. When was Cromwell invested with the title of 
protector of England ? 

17. What was his age at that time? 

18. To what did he immediately apply himself? 

10. With what did he fill the courts of Westminster ? 

20. AVhat did he manifest ? 

21. To whom did he give the command in Scotland ? 

22. Whom did he send to govern Ireland ? 

23. What union did he effect ? 

24. What number of representatives had Scotland ? 

25. What other country was soon after annexed ? 

26. When did the protector call a parliament ? 

27. In what manner did he attend its opening? 

28. What question did parliament debate ? 

29. What measures were then taken by the protector? 

30. Where did he send fleets ? 

31. What elevated his reputation abroad? 

32. When was another parliament called ? 

33. How many members were excluded for not 
takino- the oath ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 121 

34. What form of government was proposed in 1657? 

35. What was offered to the protector? 

36. What was his objection to accepting the crown? 

37. When did parliament again convene ? 

3S. What caused the protector to dissolve them ? 

39. How did the death of his daughter affect him? 

40. When did Cromwell die, and at what age ? 

41. What is said of his character? 

42. Who succeeded Oliver Cromwell as protector? 
48. When did Richard summon parliament to meet? 
41. By what were their deliberations interrupted? 

45. Describe the contentions between the parliament 
and the council of officers. 

46. How was the protector deposed ? 

47. Who now possessed the supreme authority ? 

48. What broke out at this time ? 

49. How many persons were elected a committee of 
safety ? 

51). What is said of general Monk? 
51. What was called? 

Ft'2. Whn rnncitil litprl n mninrilv in nnvl imnpnt 1 



;j^. 



Who constituted a majority in parliament 



53. What did they repeal ? 

51. In whose favour did general Monk declare ? 

55. Who attempted to excite an insurrection ? 

56. With what were they seized ? 

57. What did they try to infuse into the army ? 

58. Who escaped from the Tower? 

59. Who restrained Lambert, and quenched the rising 
flame ? 

60. What did parliament receive from the king? 
6.L How was it received ? 

62. What disposition was made of the letter and de- 
claration ? 

63. What did the king offer to all persons ? 

64. Wlr*at was conferred upon the king? 

65. Who were appointed to invite the king to return 
to England ? 

GG. Who met the king when he arrived from Holland ? 
07. How did the king meet general Monk? 
68. When did the king enter London ? 



u 



I 



122 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

Charles II. succeeded to the throne of 
England on the dissolution of the common- 
wealth, May 29, 1660. The parliament 
(called by the king the healing parliament) 
was dissolved Dec. 29, 1660, after passing 
several acts, one of which was for erecting a 
post-office. The Royal Society was founded 
this .year, by the king s letters patent. Charles 
II. was crowned April 23, 1661. A new 
parliament met in May, which continued 1 8 
years, and was called the pensionary parlia- 
ment. May, 1 662, the king married Catha- 
rine, princess of Portugal. March 2, 1664, 
war was declared against the States-general. 
On June 3, 1665, the duke of York beat 
Opdam, the Dutch admiral. In May, the 
plague broke out in London, and swept off 
68,596 of the people. In Jan., 1666, the 
French declared war against England. The 
English fleet put to sea, and, meeting the 
French fleet, was beaten. In September, 
about one o'clock in the morning, a fire 
broke out in London, which continued burn- 
ing for three days, and laid the greater part 
of the city in ashes, consuming 89 churches, 
the city gates, Guildhall, with many other 
public structures, and 13,200 dwelling- 
houses. The ruins comprehended 436 acres. 
In Oct., 1667, the king laid the first stone 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 123 

of the Royal Exchange, which was built on 
the site of the former one. 

In Jan., 1668, was concluded the famous 
triple alliance between England, Holland, 
and Sweden, which was designed to check 
the projects of Louis XIV. of France, who had 
invaded the Netherlands. In April, 1670, 
a severe act was passed against the noncon- 
formists. The king formed a secret council, 
wliich was nicknamed the Cabal. They 
promoted all the king's measures, no matter 
how contrary to the interest of England and 
the welfare of Europe. On April 16, 1677, 
the king, among other acts, gave his assent 
to one for taking away the writ de hxretica 
combnrendo. In 1679, the act of habeas 
corpus, by which the subject is secured 
against arbitrary imprisonment, was passed. 
This is one of the most important laws that 
was ever made since the commencement of 
the English monarchy. On March 21, 
1680, the parliament met. They ordered 
their votes to be printed, which practice has 
since been continued. The year 1684 was 
remarkable for the number of prosecutions 
of persons for speaking ill of the king, the 
duke of York, and the government. Some 
were fined in large sums, and others pilloried. 
Sir George Jefferies, a man without honour 
or conscience, was made lord justice of the 
King's Bench. Feb. 6, 1685, the king died, in 
his 55th year, and in the 25th year of his 
reign. He was a slave to pleasure, and a 



124 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

devotee to vice and licentiousness. His reign 
was an outrage on virtue and humanity. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded to the throne of England, upon 
the dissolution of the commonwealth ? 

2. When did Charles II. commence his reign? 

3. What title was given to this parliament by the 
king ? 

4. W r hen was this parliament dissolved? 

5. What acts were passed by this parliament ? 
0. When was king Charles II. crowned ? 

7. When did parliament meet? 

8. How long did it continue ? 

9. What was this new parliament called ? 

10. When did the king marry Catharine, princess of 
Portugal ? 

11. When was war declared against the States- 
general ? 

12. When did the duke of York defeat the Dutch 
admiral ? 

13. When did the plague break out in London ? 

14. How many people were destroyed by it ? 

15. When did France declare war against England ? 

16. Whose fleet was defeated ? 

17. When did the great fire break out in London ? 

18. How long did it continue ? 

19. How many houses were destroyed? 

20. What was the extent of the ruins ? 

21. When did the king lay the corner-stone of the 
Royal Exchange ? 

22. Where was it built? 

23. When was the alliance between England, Hol- 
land, and Sweden concluded? 

24. What was the design of this alliance ? 

25. What severe act was passed, April, 1670 ? 
2(3. What was formed by the king ? 

27. What was it nicknamed ? 

28. To what act did the king give his assent, April 
16, 1677 ? 

29. When was the act of habeas corpus passed ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 125 

30. What did parliament order when they met, March 

21, wm! 

31. For what was the year 1681 remarkable? 

32. What punishments were inflicted ? 

33. Who was made lord justice of the King's Bench ? 
31. What is said of Sir George -JHieries ? 

35. When did the king die, at what age, and in Avhat 
year of his reign ? 

30. What is said of him ? 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

James II. succeeded his brother Charles, 
Feb. 6, 1685. An attempt had been made 
in parliament to exclude him from the 
crown, in consequence of his attachment to 
the Roman Catholic religion, but Charles 
had thwarted it by dissolving the parliament. 
On April 523, 1685, the king and queen 
were crowned. The king would not receive 
the sacrament, but the rest of the ceremony 
was in the Protestant form. The beginning 
of his reign was disturbed by two insurrec- 
tions ; one in Scotland, headed by the duke 
of Argyle ; the other in England, in favour 
of the duke of Monmouth. They were 
both suppressed, and their leaders beheaded. 
The cruel judge Jefferies tried the prisoners ; 
after which he boasted that he had hanged 
more men than all the judges since king 
William the Conqueror. 

Every method was taken to establish 



126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

popery. In Ireland the privy council was 
dissolved and a new one called, composed 
partly of Papists, who soon became the ma- 
jority. Protestant officers of the army were 
turned out, and Papists appointed in their 
place, contrary to law. The parliament re- 
monstrated against it ; the king declared his 
determination to employ the Papists, and was 
so much offended that he dissolved that body. 
The remainder of James II. 's reign was em- 
ployed in measures to make himself absolute, 
and to establish popery. In April, 1686, he 
wrote to Scotland, desiring that the Papists 
might be released from the restraints under 
which they were placed. The lords Arundel 
and Bellasyse, although they had been im- 
peached for the popish plot, and father Peter 
his confessor, were admitted as members of 
his council. Every thing was tending to 
establish the Roman Catholic religion. The 
king's army consisted of 15,000 men, in 
which mass was said daily. This caused the 
Rev. Mr. Johnson to send an address to the 
Protestant officers and soldiers in the army, 
exhorting them not to be tools of the court, 
in subverting their religion and liberty. For 
this offence, he was degraded, whipped from 
Tyburn to Newgate, compelled to stand 
three times in the pillory, and fined 500 
marks. 

The king began to increase his army and 
fleet ; the new commissions were generally 
given to popish officers. The king then 



HISTOR¥> OF ENGLAND. 127 

made an experiment, to see how far he might 
depend upon his army. He directed them 
to take their arms, and then commanded 
such officers and soldiers as would not con- 
tribute to the repeal of the penal laws and 
test, to lay down their arms ; which every 
officer and soldier did, with the exception of 
the Papists. At this the kins; was so as- 
tonished, that he stood speechless for some 
time, and then ordered them to take up their 
arms again, adding, with a sullen air, that he 
would not do them the honour again of askin 
their advice. The fleet was no better dispose 
towards the king; for when vice-admiral 
Strickland attempted to have mass on board 
his ship, it caused such excitement among 
the sailors, that it was with difficulty they 
could be restrained from throwing the priest 
overboard. 

The nation now began in earnest to think 
of means for preserving their religion and 
liberties. Several of the nobility waited on 
the prince of Orange at the Hague, inviting 
him to come over. James was now in the 
utmost consternation ; he appeared willing 
to do any thing to reconcile the people : but 
it was evident that this willingness proceeded 
from necessity, not from choice. When the 
prince of Orange landed in England, the 
I king ordered his army to rendezvous at Salis- 
bury plain ; but finding he could not rely on 
it, he returned to London ; and on Dec. 1 0, 
he left Whitehall at night in disguise, to 



128 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

go to France. At his departure, he sent a 

letter to his general to disband his forces. 

The reign of James II. ended on Dec. 1 0. 

1688. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded Charles II. to the throne of Eng- 
land? 

2. Why did parliament attempt to exclude James from 
the crown ? 

3. How was that attempt thwarted ? 

4. When were king James II. and his queen crowned ? 

5. By what was the beginning of his reign disturbed ? 
0. By whom was the insurrection in Scotland headed I 
?. Of whom was the one in England in favour ? 

8. What was done with the leaders of these insur- 



rections 



9. By whom were the prisoners tried ? 

10. Of what did judge JefTeries boast ? 

11. What means were used to establish popery in 
England? 

12. For what purpose did the king write to Scotland ? 

13. Who were admitted as members of his council? 

14. What was tending to establish the Roman Catholic 
religion? 

15. What was in the king's army ? 
1(5. What was said daily in his army ? 

17. Who sent an address to the Protestants in the 



arinv 



18. What was his punishment for this act ? 

19. By what means did the king attempt to force the 
Roman Catholic religion upon the nation ? 

20. What experiment did the king employ ? 

21. How did his experiment succeed I 

22. How was the king affected? 

23. How was the fleet disposed towards the king ? 

24. What did vice-admiral Strickland attempt ? 

25. What did this attempt cause among the sailors ? 
20. What did the commander with difficulty restrain 

them from doing ? 

27. What did the nation now begin to think of ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 129 

28. On whom did several of the nobility wait? 

29. Where did they wait on him ? 

30. What did they invite him to do? 

31. How did this invitation affect king James? 

32. What was he now willing to do ? 

3-3. From what did this willingness proceed? 

34. What did the king order upon the arrival of the 
prince of Orange in England ? 

35. What induced the king to return to London ? 

36. When and how did he leave London ? 

37. What did he send to his general at his departure ? 

38. When did James II. 's reisni close? 



CHAPTER XXV. 

William and Mary succeeded to the 
throne of England, on the flight of James II. 
William landed in England at Tarbay, on 
the 5th of Nov., 1688, with an army of 
14,000 troops. William, soon after his ar- 
rival, was invited to London. In the mean 
time, the lords took upon themselves the 
government of the kingdom, and agreed to 
address the prince of Orange, requesting him 
to take upon himself the administration of 
the public affairs till a convention should 
meet. The convention of lords and com- 
mons met Jan. 22, 1689, and voted that the 
| prince and princess of Orange should be king 
| and queen. The princess arrived Feb. 12, 
1689. The next day both houses waited on 
them, and offered them the crown ; and the 
same day they were proclaimed king and 



130 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

queen, by the names of William and Mary. 
Soon after, William, with the advice and 
consent of the commons, declared war 
against France. The king and queen were 
crowned by the bishop of London on April 
11, 16S9. * 

Agreeably to the Declaration of Right, the 
king signed the Bill of Rights and Accession 
on Dec. 1 6, with the addition of a remark- 
able clause, excluding forever Papists, and 
persons marrying Papists, from inheriting the 
crown of England. An act was passed in 
Scotland for settling the crown on the king 
and queen of England ; pursuant to which, 
they were proclaimed sovereigns of Scotland, 
April 1 1, the day of their coronation in Eng- 
land. In Ireland, king James's party, the 
Papists, held the government. Tyrconnel 
had secured all the most important places 
of the kingdom, and used such violence 
against the Protestants, that they were forced 
to leave the kingdom. James went over 
from France to Ireland, where he arrived 
March 12, 1689. He called a parliament 
at Dublin, when an act was passed to attaint 
some 3,000 Protestant lords, ladies, gentle- 
men, and clergymen, of high-treason. In 
June, 1690, king William landed in Ireland 
with a gallant army: and on July 1, 1690, 
was fought the ever-memorable battle of the 
Boy ne. He gained a complete victory over 
the French and Irish, and obliged James to 
retire to Dublin, and finally to France. On 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 131 

the following Sunday, William entered Dub- 
lin in triumph, and went to St. Patrick's 
church to offer thanksgiving for his victory. 
He then returned to England, and sent over 
the earl of Marlborough to complete the 
reduction of Ireland, which, after several 
battles, he accomplished by August 1 4, 1 691 . 

In order to animate the confederate princes 
and states, William attended the famous con- 
gress of the Hague in 1691. He returned to 
England Nov. 9, 1 694 ; and on Dec. 28, 1694, 
Mary, his queen, died of the small-pox, 
which caused inexpressible grief to the na- 
tion. She was the eldest daughter of James 
II., and died in the 33d year of her age, 
having reigned nearly six years jointly with 
her husband. 

The parliament made a strict inquiry into 
several abuses and corruptions. The condi- 
tion of the silver coin was first taken into 
consideration, which, by clipping and adul- 
terating, had been reduced nearly one half in 
value. All the silver money was ordered to 
be called in and recoined, the loss to be borne 
by the kingdom. This gave rise to the Ex- 
chequer bills, or paper money. 

In 1695, the English fleet, under Lord 
Berkeley, spread terror along the coast of 
France. On the 1 2th of Jan., a double plot 
was discovered to assassinate the king and 
invade the kingdom. Emissaries of the 
late king came over, and held consultation 
with the Papists how to murder the king. 



132 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

They at length agreed to assassinate him in 
his coach in a lane, as he returned from hunt- 
ing. But happily the whole plot was dis- 
covered the night before it was to take 
place. Immediately on the death of William, 
James was to invade England with a large 
army from France; but the plot having 
failed, their plans were entirely frustrated. 

On June 12, 1701, was passed the famous 
act for the further limitation of the crown, 
and better securing the rights and liberties 
of the subjects, whereby the succession of 
the crown was settled on the princess Sophia, 
electress-dowager of Hanover, and her Pro- 
testant heirs. She was granddaughter to 
James I., by his daughter Elizabeth, queen 
of Bohemia, and mother to king George I. 
of England. 

In 1701, William went to Holland, where 
he made a speech in the assembly of the states, 
on the posture of the affairs in Europe, which 
had a good effect. The English were now 
divided into parties, on the propriety of a 
war with France; but on Sept. 5, 1701, the 
late king James died. This produced a 
union of the people in favour of William, 
who returned to England about the last of 
October. The parliament resolved that no 
peace should be made with France until re- 
paration had been made by the French king 
for the indignity offered in declaring the 
pretended prince of Wales king of England. 
They then voted 40,000 land forces, and as 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 133 

many for the sea service. In the midst of 
these vigorous preparations, the king fell 
from his horse and broke his collar-bone, on 
Feb. 21, 1702, and died March 8, 1702. 

Thus died the heroic William III., in the 
5 2d year of his age, having reigned 13 years, 
3 weeks, and 2 days. In courage, conduct, 
and magnanimity, he rivalled the most emi- 
nent warriors of antiquity. He was religious, 
temperate, just, and merciful. But what 
seems chiefly to have distinguished his 
character was a sincere regard to the natural 
rights and liberties of mankind. 
Questions. 

1. Who succeeded James II.? 

2. When did William land in England ? 

tt. Where was he invited soon after his arrival ? 

4. Who took upon themselves the government of the 
kingdom ? 

5. For what purpose did they address the prince of 
Orange ? 

0. When did the convention of lords and commons 
meet 1 1 

7. What was voted by them ? 

8. W T hen did the princess arrive in England? 

9. What was done by both houses the following 
day? 

10. When were the prince and princess proclaimed 
king and queen ? 

1 1. What was done by the king, with the advice and 
consent of the commons? 

12. When were the king and queen crowned ? 

13. When was the Bill of Rights and Accession 
passed ? 

14. What remarkable clause did this bill contain? 

15. What act was passed in Scotland in relation to 
the crown ? 



12 



134 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

16. When were William and Mary proclaimed king 
and queen in Scotland ? 

17. In whose hands was the government of Ireland ? 

18. What had Tyrconnel secured in Ireland ? 

19. Why were the Protestants obliged to leave Ire- 
| land I 

20. When did James arrive in Ireland from France? 
31. What did he call in Dublin? 

22. What was the purport of an act passed there ? 

23. When did king William land in Ireland with a 
; gallant army ? 

24. When was the ever memorable battle of the 
! Boyne fought ? 

25. Who gained a complete victory ? 

20. What became of James after the battle? 

27. What was done by William when he entered 
Dublin? 

28. Who was sent to complete the reduction of Ire- 
land ? 

29. When was this accomplished ? 

80. When did king William attend the congress of 
the Hague ? ' 

81. What was his object in attending this congress? 

82. When did he return to England ? 

88. When did queen Mary die, and of what disease ? 
34. What effect did her death produce ? 
85. How old was she, anil how long had she jointly 
reigned ? 

36,. Into what did parliament make inquiry? 

87. What was done concerning the silver coin? 

88. To what did this give rise? 

89. What was done by the English fleet under Lord 
Berkeley? 

40. What double plot Avas discovered, Jan. 12, 1695? 

41. Who were engaged in this plot? 

42. Where was it determined to assassinate the king ? 
48. When was the plot discovered ? 

44. What was James to do, upon hearing of the as- 
sassination ? 

45. What entirely frustrated his plans? 

46. What act was passed June 12, 1701 ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 135 

47. On whom was the succession of the crown settled ? 

48. When did king- William go to Holland, and for 
what purpose ? 

49. Into w r hat were the English people divided ? 

50. When did the late king lames die, and what 
union did it cause ? 

51. What did parliament resolve ? 
5~. For what forces did they vote ? 
53. When did king William die? 

51. What was the cause of his death? 

55. How old was William, and how long had he 
reigned ? 

56. What was his character? 

57. What chiefly distinguished him ? 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

Anne, daughter of James II., succeeded 
William. She was proclaimed queen, March 
8, 1702, War was declared against France 
and Spain, May 4, 170 c 2; prince George of 
Denmark, husband to the queen, being made 
lord high admiral, and the duke of Marlbo- 
rough, captain-general. After numerous 
encounters, the great battle of Hochstet was 
fought, wherein the French lost 30,000 
men and 10,000 prisoners. Peace was at 
length signed, March 30, 1713. 

Anne had six children, hut all died young. 
Her character, viewed in a private light, is 
one of the most amiable to be found in his- 
tory. She was remarkable for her piety and 
unbounded chanty. She died August 1, 



136 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

1714, in the 50th year of her age and 13th 
of her reign. 

George I. succeeded to the crown of 
Great Britain, August 1, 1714. He was 
the eldest son of Ernestus Augustus, by 
princess Sophia, daughter of Elizabeth, eldest 
daughter of king James I. Consequently 
George I. was great-grandson to king James I. 
He was crowned Oct. 20, 1714. A new 
parliament met March 17, 1715. In July 
the king gave his assent to an act for prevent- 
ing tumults and riotous assemblies, common- 
ly called the riot act, which is still in force. 
This year an act was passed for enlarging 
the time of continuance of parliaments. 
July 7,1715, the king set out for his German 
dominions. 

The year 1720 was remarkable for the 
South Sea scheme. South Sea stock rose 
from 100 to 1200, and then fell to nothing, 
by which means many families w r ere ruined, 
and a few made rich. The directors' estates 
were sold for the benefit of the sufferers, and 
they were incapacitated from sitting in either 
house of parliament, and from holding any 
office of trust or honour forever. 

A new parliament met Oct. 9, 1 722, when 
the king informed them of a conspiracy for 
overturning the established government, and 
setting up the pretender. On Sept. 3, 1725, 
a peace was concluded between England, 
France, and Prussia, and afterwards by the 
States-general. This treaty was intended as 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 137 

a counterbalance to one which had been 
concluded between Spain and Austria. These 
counter alliances put all Europe in a flame ; 
and three British squadrons were fitted out, 
one being sent to the Baltic, one to the 
coast of Spain, and the other to the West 
Indies. 

King George died June 11, 1727. in the 
6Sth year of his age and 23d of his reign. 

From the death of Charles II. down to 
this period. England made considerable pro- 
gress in every" branch of literature. Drs. 
Atterbury and Clarke wrote on divinity; 
Winston, in defence of Arianism ; John 
Locke, on the human understanding; Cud- 
worth, on metaphysics ; Shaftsbury, on moral 
philosophy ; Bolingbroke. Waliis, Halley, 
and Flamstead, on mathematics; and Per 
Freind and Mead, on medicine. Steele, 
Addison, Pope, and other eminent poets also 
flourished during the above period. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded William? 

2. When was Anne crowned ? 

3. When was war declared against France? 

4. Who was made lord high admiral I 

5. Who was made captain-general ? 

0. What great battle was fought between the English 
and the French ? 

7. Which party gained the victory ? 

8. What number did the French lose in this battle ? 

9. How many Frenchmen were taken prisoners ? 

10. When was peace concluded ? 

11. What is said of queen Anne ? 

12* 



ws 



138 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

12. When did she die, at what age, and how long 
had she reigned ? 

13. What is said of her character? 

14. Who succeeded queen Anne ? 

15. When was George I. crowned ? 
Hi. When did the parliament meet? 

17. To what law did the king give his assent ? 

18. What other act was passed ? 

19. When did the king set out for his German do- 
minions ? 

20. For what was the year 1720 remarkable ? 

21. How did this stock rate ? 

22. What effect had this rising and falling of the 
stock ? 

23. What was done with the estates of the directors ? 

24. How were the directors punished ? 

25. When did a new parliament convene ? 

26. What information did the king give to parlia- 
ment? 

27. By what nations was a peace concluded, Sept. 3, 
1725 I 

28. What was intended by this treaty ? 

29. What did these counter alliances produce in 
Europe ? 

30. How many squadrons were sent to the Baltic sea? 

31. How many to the coast of Spain ? 

32. And how many to the West Indies ? 

33. When did George I. die ? 

34. At what age, and how long had he reigned? 

35. In what did England make considerable progress 
from the death of Charles II. to the death of George I. ? 

3(3. Mention some of the distinguished persons who 
flourished during this period. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 139 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

George II. succeeded his father George 
L, June 15, 1727. All the great officers of 
government were continued in their places ; 
the system of politics established by the late 
king underwent no change. The parliament 
met June 27, 1727. On the 29th, the com- 
mons granted the king the entire revenues 
of the civil list, amounting to about §6700,000 
per annum. On Oct. 11, 1727, the king 
and queen were crowned. Jan. 23, 1728, 
a new parliament met, when warm disputes 
arose on the subject of the national debt. 
On the 27th of May, the king dissolved 
the parliament. A congress convened at 
Soissons, for determining all disputes among 
the powers of Europe; but, after long de- 
bates, the conferences broke up without pro- 
ducing any effect. The Spaniards commit- 
ted cruel depredations on the commerce of 
Great Britain with impunity. The parlia- 
ment convened again on Jan. 13, 1730, and 
an act passed forbidding the subjects of Eng- 
land loaning money to foreign powers with- 
out the consent of the king. On April 9, 
petitions were presented to the commons, to 
lay open the East India trade, but without 
effect ; and the exclusive privileges vested in 
the East India Company were extended to 
the year 1766. An excellent act was passed 



140 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

for the better regulating of juries, and to 
prevent their being packed. During this 
year, every part of the kingdom was in- 
fested with robbers, assassins, and incendia- 
ries. A famous periodical, called the Crafts- 
man, now made its appearance. All law 
proceedings were ordered to be in English, 
instead of Latin. In the parliament of 1 734, 
a bill was passed to prevent stockjobbing 
for three years. The parliament of 1736 
passed a bill repealing the statute against 
conjuration and witchcraft, and dealing with 
evil spirits ; and also an act restraining the 
retail of spirituous liquors. Nov. 20, 1737. 
queen Caroline died, in the 55th year of her 
age. On the 24th of May, 1738, George 
III. was born. 

In 1744, commodore Anson returned 
from an expedition round the world. At 
this period, the grandson of James II. resolved 
to make an effort to gain the British crown. 
Being supplied with men and money by 
France, he landed on the coast of Scotland 
with an army; and being joined by many 
of the Highlanders, he marched through 
Scotland. When he arrived at Perth, he 
had his father proclaimed king of Great 
Britain. He entered Edinburgh without 
opposition., where the pageantry of procla- 
mation was likewise performed. August 1 7, 
he marched into England and Wales with 
much success. The people were thunder- 
struck. Had he pushed on immediately to 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 141 

London, he would have taken it without 
much opposition. But he delayed and gave 
them time to make preparation. He return- 
ed with his army into Scotland. The duke 
of Cumberland pursued the rebels ; and on 
April 6, 1746, he came up with them on 
the plains of Culloden, where a tremendous 
light ensued. The royal army proving vic- 
torious, a general slaughter followed. The 
pretender narrowly escaped being taken. 
He fled to the mountains, where he some- 
times found refuge in caves. A price of 
;£ 30,000 was set upon his head. During 
his sojourn in the mountains, he was often 
hardly pushed. One day, after having walk- 
ed from morning till night, and being pressed 
by hunger and worn out by fatigue, he ven- 
tured into a house which he knew was 
inhabited by a royalist. " The son of your 
king," said lie, " comes to beg a bit of bread 
and some clothes. I know your present at- 
tachment to my adversary, but 1 believe you 
have sufficient honour not to abuse my con- 
fidence, or to take the advantage of my mis- 
fortunes. Take these rags, that have for 
some time been my only covering, and keep 
them. You may, perhaps, restore them to 
me one day, when seated on the throne of 
the kings of Great Britain." His host was 
touched with his distressed situation, and as- 
sisted him, and never divulged his secret. 

Feb. 1750, was remarkable for two earth- 
quakes in the cities of London and West- 1 



142 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

minster. On March 20, 1751, Frederic, 
prince of Wales, died. He was a very amiable 
gentleman. In May an act passed, abolishing 
the old style and establishing the new : this 
was done by dropping eleven days from the 
month of September, 1752, and thereafter j 
beginning the year on the 1st of January. 
In 1 753, two famous bills for naturalizing the j 
Jews were passed. The national debt at this j 
time amounted to more than ^74,000,000. 
In 1754, the Society for the Encouragement j 
of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce was 
founded. 

In 1755, another war began between 
France and England, and several battles were 
fought in America. The city of Quebec 
and the Canadas were taken during this war. 
In 1759 was fought the battle of Minden, 
said to be the most glorious in the English 
annals. 

During the reign of George 11., the powers 
of the mmd were fully and freely exercised, 
and many great men flourished. On Oct. 
23, 1760, king George died suddenly, in the 
77th year of his age and 33d of his reign. 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded George I. ? 

2. When did George II. commence his reign ? 
8. Who were continued in their places ? 

4. What underwent no change? 

5. When did parliament meet? 

0. What did the commons grant to the king ? 

7. When were the king and queen crowned ? 

8. When did a new parliament meet? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 143 

9. About what did this parliament dispute ? 

10. When was parliament dissolved ? 

11. Where was a congress convened? 

12. What was the object of this congress? 

13. How did they succeed ? 

14. On what did the Spaniards commit depredations ? 

15. When did the parliament convene again? 

16. What act was passed ? 

17. For what was parliament petitioned ? 

18. To what year were the exclusive privileges of the 
East India Company extended ? 

10. What excellent act was passed ? 

29. When was the kingdom infested with robbers 
and assassins ? 

21. What famous periodical was now published? 

22. What was ordered in relation to law proceedings ? 

23. When was the bill to prevent stockjobbing passed ? 

24. What laws were passed in 1730 ? 

25. When did the. queen die, and at what age ? 

26. When was George III. born ? 

27. From whence did commodore Anson return? 

28. Who made an effort to gain the crown? 
20. Who supplied him with men and money? 

30. Where did he land his troops ? 

31. Where was his father proclaimed king? 

32. Where did he enter without opposition? 

33. Did he meet with success when he marched into 
England ? 

34. What probably would have been his success if 
he had marched immediately to London ? 

35. What did his delay produce? 

36. When was the celebrated brittle fought on the 
plains of Culloden? 

37. Which party was successful? 

38. Where did the young pretender sometimes find 
refuge ? 

30. What price was set upon his head ? 

40. Describe his situation in the mountains, and his 
visit to the house of a royalist. 

41. For what was the year 1750 remarkable ? 

42. When did Frederic, prince of Wales, die ? 



144 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

43. When was the act establishing the new style 
passed ? 

44. When were the two famous bills for naturalising 
Jews passed ? 

45. What was the amount of the national debt at this 
time ? 

40. What society was founded in 1754 ? 

47. When did war break out between England and 
France ? 

48. What is said of the battle of Minden ? 

49. What were freely exercised during this reign? 

50. When did king George II. die, at what age, and 
how long- had he reig-ned? 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

George III., eldest son of Frederic, prince 
of Wales, and grandson of George II., was 
proclaimed king of Great Britain, Oct. 26, 
1760, when he was about 21 years of age. 
On the 10th of Feb., 1763, a treaty of peace 
between England, France, and Spain, was 
concluded at Paris, and acceded to by Portu- 
gal. Never was the fortune of any nation 
higher than that of England at this time. 
Besides her rich possessions in the East and 
West Indies, and those on the coast of Africa, 
all enlarged by a series of the most extraor- 
dinary success, and confined by a perpetual 
treaty ; and without including Hudson s bay, 
Newfoundland, or the other islands of the 
new world ; she was mistress of almost all the 
vast continent of North America. Her em- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 145 

pire was the most extensive that was ever 
formed on the face of the earth. 

During the administration of Mr. Gren- 
ville in 1765, bills were passed for laying a 
stamp duty on the British colonies in North 
America. The Americans denied the right 
of the British parliament to tax them ; and, 
therefore, when the passage of the stamp act 
was made known in America, it caused in- 
tense excitement and disturbances. Great 
opposition was also made in England to the 
measure. The ministry consequently re- 
tired, and the act was repealed ; but at the 
same time a bill was passed for securing the 
dependence of the colonies upon the mother- 
country. 

In 1765, the first continental congress 
met at New York. On March 5, 1770, the 
Boston massacre took place, in which three 
men were killed, and two men wounded. 
These were the first martyrs in the Revolu- 
tionary war. In 1773, the tea act was pass- 
ed by parliament; on which, the East India 
Company sent large quantities of tea to 
Charleston, Philadelphia, New York, and 
Boston. The tea sent to Charleston was 
landed and stored, but not permitted to be 
sold. That sent to Philadelphia and New 
York was sent back, without even an entry 
being made at the custom-house. The cargo 
sent to Boston was taken from the ship by a 
number of persons disguised as Mohawk 
Indians, and was thrown into the river. 

1 la 



146 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

In 1774, the Boston port bill was passed 
by parliament ; and in the same year the 
continental congress assembled at Philadel- 
phia. The earl of Chatham, in one of his 
brilliant speeches, thus speaks of that con- 
gress: " History, my lords, has been my 
iavourite study ; and in the celebrated writ- 
ings of antiquity, I have often admired the 
patriotism of Greece and Rome. But, my 
lords, I must declare and avow, that in the 
master tales of the world, I know not the 
people or the senate who, in such a compli- 
cation of difficult circumstances, can stand 
in preference to the delegates of America, 
assembled in general congress at Philadel- 
phia." 

1775, April 19, hostilities commenced 
between the two countries, by the battles 
of Lexington and Concord. June 1 7, gene- 
ral Washington was appointed generalissimo, 
or commander-in-chief of the American 
forces. June 17, battle of Bunker Hill 
took place. 

1776, July 4, the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence, adopted by the American colonies 
met in general congress, was signed by 
the president and secretary of that body, 
and proclaimed at the head of the army. 
July 19, the declaration was engrossed 
on parchment, with the title and style of 
66 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen 
United States of America." August 2, 
the declaration being engrossed and com- 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 147 

pared at the table, was signed by the mem- 
bers. Dec. 25, the battle of Trenton 
was fought, in which the Americans killed 
20 and captured 1000 of the enemy, with 
the loss of 2 killed and 2 frozen to death. 
In October, 1777, the British army, under 
general Burgoyne, to the number of 5750, 
surrendered to general Gates at Saratoga. 

The final battle of the Revolution between 
the British and the Americans was that of 
Yorktown, where Lord Cornwallis surren- 
dered to general Washington, Oct. 19, 1781. 

1782, Nov. 30, a treaty of peace was con- 
cluded, at Paris, between England and the 
United States, by commissioners deputed for 
that purpose. The commissioners on behalf 
of the United States were, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry 
Laurens. By this treaty the independence 
of the thirteen United States of America 
was acknowledged by Great Britain. 

In November, 1788, the king was seized 
with a serious attack of illness, which was 
admitted to be delirium, and from which he 
did not recover till the following March. 
A bill conferring the regency upon the 
prince of Wales, with certain restrictions, 
had nearly passed both houses, when the king 
recovered. His recovery produced the great- 
est joy throughout the kingdom. 

On account of certain hostilities committed 
on the north-western coast of America by 
the Spaniards, an armament was prepared in 



148 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

1790, to act against Spain. But a negotiation 
took place: the Spanish court agreed to an 
indemnification, and peace was established. 
In 1801, and 1804, the king had renewed 
attacks of his mental malady ; and another in 
1810, when the prince of Wales was created 
regent by parliament. George III. conti- 
nued insane until his death, which happened 
in 1820, in the 82d year of his age, and the 
Gist of his reign. The national debt, which 
at the commencement of the reign was about 
sfi 108,000,000, on which was paid an annual 
interest of not quite s64,000,000, had in- 
creased by the end of the reign to above 
sfi800,000 5 000 of principal, bearing an inte- 
rest of more than a£30,000,000 ! 

Questions. 

1. Who succeeded George II. to the throne of Great 
Britain ? 

2. When was George III. proclaimed king- ? 

3. When was a treaty of peace concluded between 
England, France, and Spain? 

4. Describe the prosperous condition of England at 
this time. 

5. When were the bills laying a stamp duty on the 
British colonies in North America passed ? 

6. What did the Americans deny ? 

7. What did the stamp act cause in America ? 

8. W 7 as the measure opposed in England ? 

9. What was done when the ministry retired, ? 

10. What bill was passed ? 

11. When and where was the first continental con- 
gress convened ? 

12. When was the- Boston massacre ? 

13. When was the tea act passed by parliament ? 

14. What did the East India Company do ? 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 149 

15. What was done with the tea sent to America? 

16. Wlxm was the Boston port bill passed? 

17. When did the continental congress convene at 
Philadelphia? 

18. What did the earl of Chatham say in relation to 
this congress ? 

19. When were the battles of Lexington and Con- 
cord fought? 

20. When was general Washington appointed com- 
mander-in-chief of the American forces? 

21. When was the battle of Bunker Hill? 

22. When was the Declaration of Independence 
adopted by the congress ? 

23. By whom was 'it signed on July 4 ? 
21. Where was it proclaimed? 

25. When was it engrossed, and by what title ? 
20. When was it signed by all the members ? 

27. When was the battle of Trenton fought? 

28. How many of the enemy did the Americans cap- 
ture and kill ? 

29. When and to whom did general Burgoyne sur- 
render ? 

30. Which was the final battle of the Revolution? 

31 . When did Cornwallis surrender to general Wash- 
ington ? 

32. When and where was a treaty of peace con- 
cluded between England and the United States of 
America? 

33. What was acknowledged by this treaty ? 

34. With what was the king seized? 

35. When did he recover ? 

36. What bill had nearly passed before, the king's 
recovery I 

37. What did the king's recovery produce? 

38. When was an armament prepared to act against 
Spain ? 

39. What caused this armament ? 

40. How were matters settled ? 

41. When had the king renewed attacks of his men- 
tal malady? 

42. When was the final attack ? 



150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

43. How long did it continue ? 

44. Who was created regent by parliament ? 

45. When did George III. die, at what age, and how 
long had he reigned? 

46. What was the amount of the national debt at the 
commencement of his reign? 

47. What was its amount at the close of his reign? 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

George IV. succeeded his father, George 
III. His course of life had heen so profligate 
and extravagant, that he became involved 
in debt. The king, his father, steadily re- 
fused to relieve his difficulties unless he 
would marry. The prince finally acceded 
to his father's terms, and was united to his 
cousin Caroline of Brunswick, April 8, 
1795. Disgust and alienation soon followed 
between the newly-married parties. After 
the birth of a daughter, they continued to 
live for some months longer under the same 
roof, but without speaking to each other. 
A complete separation afterwards ensued. 
Charges were brought against the princess, 
which were completely disproved. But, 
until her death, which happened August 7, 
1821, he treated her with unmerited bar- 
barity and contempt: his conduct towards 
her produced an extraordinary feeling of in- 
dignation throughout the kingdom. 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 151 

111 1810, in consequence of the indisposi- 
tion of George III., the prince of Wales was 
appointed regent. In June, 1 81 5, was fought 
the battle of Waterloo, which put an end to 
the gigantic power of Napoleon Bonaparte. 
Bonaparte soon after surrendered himself to 
the English, who banished him to the island 
of St. Helena, where he died May 5, 1821. 
On Jan. 5, 1817, the regent was shot at on 
his return through the Park ; two balls per- 
forated the carriage. 

The prince-regent ascended the throne as 
George IV., on the death of his father, Jan. 
29, 1820. The first great public event of 
the new reign was the detection, on Feb. 23, 
of the Cato street plot to assassinate the min- 
isters. In Dec, 1826, a body of troops was 
sent to Portugal to support the princess-re- 
gent and the constitution established by Don 
Pedro, against the hostile attempts of the 
Spanish government and of the absolutist 
faction organized by that power ; the British 
force speedily put down the rebellion, and 
restored tranquillity. In 1827, the Turkish 
fleet was destroyed in the bay of Navarino 
in Greece, by the attack of the combined 
forces of England, France, and Russia. In 
1829, the great measure of Catholic eman- 
cipation was conceded. 

George IV. died June 26, 1830, in the 
68th year of his age and the 1 lth of his reign. 

Many important alterations of the laws 
were made in the reign of George IV. One 



152 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

was the abolishing the ancient custom of 
burying persons who had committed suicide 
in cross roads, with a stake driven through 
their bodies ; and another was the substituting 
the punishment of transportation, instead 
of that of death, for forgery. 

William IV., duke of Clarence, succeeded 
his brother, George IV. The parliament 
was dissolved July 24, 1830, and another 
assembled Oct. 26, 1830. Early in the ses- 
sion, a motion for parliamentary reform was 
introduced ; and being carried against the 
ministers, the duke of Wellington, who was 
then premier, tendered his resignation. The 
construction of a new ministry was confided 
to earl Grey, who called to his assistance the 
most distinguished of the Whig party, among 
whom were Henry Brougham, lord Althorp, 
lord John Russell, viscount Melbourne, and 
lord Palmerston. Parliament was dissolved 
April 23, 1831, and a new one called, which 
assembled June 14, 1831. By the reform 
bill, which was now introduced into parlia- 
ment, 86 English boroughs, which had be- 
come almost depopulated, were totally dis- 
franchised, and 30 of those which had senl 
two members were allowed to send but one ; 
and 13 new boroughs were created. The 
right of voting was besides widely extended. 
After a severe struggle, the bill passed, and 
became a law. The apportionment of the 
members of the house may be seen from the 
following table : — 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 153 

Deforc 1832. By the act of 1832. 



500 



England and Wales : 

Counties, - - - 941 1591 

Universities, - - - 4 1 5 13 4 1 5 

Cities and boroughs, 4 15 J 3527 J 

Scotland : 

Counties, - - - - 30 > ,- 30 > -„ 

Cities and boroughs, 15 5 23 5 

Ireland : 

Counties, - - - - 04") Oil 

Universities, - - - it 101 2 1 105 



Cities and boroughs, 



04 1 04 1 

1 [ 101 2 I 

39 J 39 J 



(502 058 

A parliament on the new basis was called, 
and met on Jan. 29, 1833. The principal 
measures brought before it were, a bill to re- 
form and regulate the affairs of the burghs — 
another to emancipate the slaves in the West 
Indies, — and a new poor law bill. 

William died at Windsor castle, June 20, 
1S37, in the 72d year of his age and 7th of 
his reign. He was frank and affable in his 
manners, and averse to pomp and parade. 
In early life he had been a midshipman on 
board a man of war, and had always accus- 
tomed himself to mix with the people ; and 
after coming to the throne, he not unfre- 
quently broke through the trammels with 
which etiquette had enclosed royalty. 

Victoria, only child of Edward, duke of 
Kent, succeeded William IV. She was born 
May 21, 1819, and was proclaimed queen 
June 21, 1837. The first prominent event 
of her reign was an insurrection in Canada, 
which was subdued : the chiefs of the con- 



154 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

spiracy, however, made their escape into the 
United States. In 1 840, she married Albert, 
prince of Saxe-Cobourg. 

An unjustifiable war against China was 
commenced in 1 840. The Chinese emperor 
had forbidden the importation of opium into 
his dominions. The English merchants 
nevertheless continued the illicit traffic, and 
the Chinese seized a large quantity of the arti- 
cle, and destroyed it. The British govern- 
ment sent an armament against them, and 
many of the Chinese were butchered. Nego- 
tiations were entered into ; and the war was 
ended by the cession of several important 
posts to the British. In 1842, the British 
army in Afghanistan was nearly annihilated. 

The chartist meetings, and the agitation for 
a repeal of the corn-laws, and for the repeal of 
the legislative union between Great Britain 
and Ireland, have for some time principally 
engrossed the public attention. 

The year 1843 will be held memorable 
for the secession of the leading ministers 
from the established Kirk of Scotland, on 
account of the interference of the secular 
power with the spiritual government of the 
church. Rather than submit to the encroach- 
ments of temporal rulers, learned and pious 
men — the glory and the ornament of Scot- 
land — resigned their comfortable livings, 
and betook themselves to attics and humble 
dwellings. 

In Wales, at the present time, bands of men, 



HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 155 

under the title of Rebecca and her daughters, 
are leagued together for the purpose of de- 
stroying the toll-gates. They have hitherto 
baflied all the efforts of government to arrest 
their proceedings. 

The union of Victoria and Albert has 
proved to be felicitous. Victoria displays the 
fidelity of a wife, and the carefulness and 
solicitude of a mother. 

Questions. 

J. Who succeeded George III.? 

2. What is said of his course of life ? 

3. What did his father refuse to do ? 

4. To whom was he united in marriage ? 

5. What soon followed the marriage? 

0. How did the parties continue to live after the birth 
of a daughter ? 

7. What ensued ? 

8. Were the charges brought against the princess 
disproved? 

9. How did the prince treat her till her death ? 

10. When did she die? 

11. What did his conduct towards her produce ? 

12. When was the prince of Wales appointed regent? 

13. When was the battle of Waterloo fought? 

14. To what did it put an end ? 

15. What is further said of Bonaparte ? 
10. When did George IV. die? 

17. What alterations of the laws were made during 
his reign ? 

18. Who succeeded George IV. ? 

19. When was parliament dissolved and a new one 
assembled ? 

20. What motion was introduced ? 

21. Was it carried ? 

22. Who resigned in consequence of it ? 

23. To whom was the construction of a new ministry 
confided ? 



156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 

24. Whom did he call to his assistance ? 

25. When was parliament dissolved and another 
called ? 

26. What bill was now introduced ? 

27. How many boroughs were disfranchised? 

28. How many were allowed to send but one member ? 

29. How many new boroughs were erected ? 
80. What was widely extended? 

31. Did the bill pass? 

32. How were the members apportioned before and 
after the year 1832 ? 

33. When was a parliament on the new basis called 
to meet? 

34. What were the principal measures brought be- 
fore it ? 

35. When did William IV. die ? 

30. What was his character? 

37. What had he been in early life ? 

38. What had he accustomed himself to do \ 

39. What further is said of him ? 

40. Who succeeded William IV. ? 

41. When was Victoria born ? 

42. When was she proclaimed queen? 

43. What was the first prominent event of her reign ? 

44. Who made their escape ? 

45. When was she married, and to whom ? 

46. What war was commenced ? 

47. Relate the occasion of this war. 

48. How was it terminated ? 

49. What was nearly annihilated? 

50. What matters have principally engrossed the 
public attention ? 

51. For what will the year 1813 be held memorable ? 

52. Why did the secession from the Kirk of Scotland 
take place ? 

53. What did learned and pious men do ? 

54. For what purpose are bands of men leagued to- 
gether in Wales ? 

55. What is their title ? 

56. What is said of the union of Victoria and Albert ? 

57. What does Victoria display ? 



APPENDIX. 



A. I). 

43. Cassivelaunus was prince of the Britons at the 

time of the Roman invasion. 
51. The second prince was Caractacus, who was 

taken bound to Rome. 
59. Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, was the first 
princess. 

449. Vortigern, the third prince, invited the Saxons 
over, to assist the Britons against the Picts and 
Scots. 

455. The fourth prince was Hengist, a Saxon, who 
laid the foundation of the kingdom of Kent, and 
fixed his royal seat at Canterbury, where he 
reigned till 488, when he died. 

508. Arthur was the fifth prince. His reign lasted 
40 years. 

547. The Saxon heptarchy was formed of the seven 
petty kingdoms of Britain, each of which was 
governed by its own prince or king. During the 
heptarchy, the Roman Catholic religion was 
introduced into Britain. The heptarchy con- 
tinued 280 years. 

827. The heptarchy was dissolved. This event may 
properly be styled the foundation of the kingdom 



of England. 



14 157 



158 APPENDIX. 

A. D. • 

827. Egbert, king of Wessex, became king of Eng- 
land. He reigned 37 years as king of Wessex, 
7 years as king of the seven kingdoms of the 
heptarchy, and 10 years as king of England. 
His whole reign was 54 years. He died in 838, 
and was interred at Winchester. 

838. Ethelwolf succeeded his father Egbert. During 
his reign, the Danes came up the Thames with 
300 ships, and pillaged London and other places. 
The king paid tithes of all his dominions. He 
visited the pope at Rome to receive his benedic- 
tions, and extended the tax of Peter's pence over 
the kingdom. He died in 857, in the 20th year 
of his reign. 

857. Etherbald and Ethelbert jointly succeeded their 
father Ethelwolf. Nothing of importance took 
place during their joint reign. Etherbald died 
in 860. During the reign of Ethelbert, the 
Danes again invaded England. He died in 866. 

866. Ethelred succeeded his brother Ethelbert. During 
his reign, the Danes subdued a considerable por- 
tion of England. Ethelred fought nine pitched 
battles with them, in the last of which he was 
mortally wounded. He died in 872, in the 6th 
year of his reign. 

872. Alfred succeeded his brother Ethelred. During 
his reign, the Danes subjugated England, and 
the king went into exile. He afterwards re- 
conquered his country from the Danes. He 
fought 56 pitched battles against them. He 
was a wise and good king. He made many 
excellent laws ; he instituted juries, and founded 



APPENDIX. 159 

A. D. 

the university of Oxford. He is considered the 
founder of the British constitution. During his 
reign justice was strictly administered. He died 
Oct. 28, 900, after a glorious reign of 28 years. 

900. Edward the Elder succeeded his father Alfred. 
He drove the Danes out of his kingdom. He 
also conquered the Welsh. He died in 925, 
after reigning 25 years. 

925. Athelstan, a natural son of Edward, succeeded 
his father. During his reign, the Danes invaded 
England again. He vanquished them in many 
battles. He died in 941, after reigning 16 years. 

941. Edmund, a legitimate son, succeeded his half- 
brother Athelstan. During his reign, an insur- 
rection broke out in Northumberland, where the 
Danes were received and encouraged. He 
triumphed over all opposition. In 948, he was 
murdered at a feast by one Leolf, a robber, 
whom he had banished. He expired immedi- 
ately, in the 8th year of his reign. 

948. Edred succeeded his brother Edmund. The 
Danes again invaded England, and gained over 
to their side the king of Scotland ; but Edred 
entirely subdued them, and made himself abso- 
lute sovereign of England. He died in 958, after 
reigning 10 years. 

958. Edvvy, son of Edmund, succeeded his uncle Ed- 
red. He quarrelled with the monks, who, in 
consequence, declared in favour of his brother 
Edgar. They deprived him of nearly the whole 
of the kingdom; and he died of grief in 962, 
after reigning 4 years. 



160 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

962. Edgar succeeded his brother Edwy, at the age 
of 16. His reign was one continued calm, 
owing to his patronage of the monks and his 
great preparations for war. He reinstated the 
monks, whom his brother had expelled. He 
liberally encouraged learning. From the tran- 
quillity of his reign he acquired the name of 
Edgar the Pacific. He died in 975, after having 
reigned 13 years. 

975. Edward the Martyr succeeded his father. His 
step-mother wished to place her son on the 
throne, although it had been willed to Edward 
by his father. One day, while hunting, he 
stopped at her house, where he was stabbed in 
the back, at her instigation. He died immedi- 
ately, in 979, in the 4th year of his reign. 

979. Ethelred, half-brother of Edward, succeeded 
him, at the age of 12 years. The Danes again 
invaded England, and for 10 years they inflicted 
great misery on England, by their depredations 
on life and property. The king at length 
bought them off by gold, which was called 
Dane gold. He afterwards suddenly extermi- 
nated them. To revenge this act, the king of 
Denmark determined to conquer England, 
which he finally succeeded in doing. Ethelred 
died in 1016, in the 50th year of his age, after 
a most inglorious reign of 37 years. 
1016. Edmund (surnamed Ironsides) succeeded his 
father. The lords proclaimed him king, while 
the Danes asserted the claims of Canute. After 
much strife, one portion of the kingdom was 



APPENDIX. 161 

A. D. 

assigned to Edmund, the other to Canute ; but 
Edmund was assassinated in 1017. With Ed- 
mund ended the Saxon rule in England, which 
had lasted 56S years from the Saxons' arrival 
under Hengist ; 432 years from the founding of 
the heptarchy; and 190 years from the reign 
of Egbert. 

1017. Canute became master of all England, and was 
proclaimed king by the English and Danes. 
During his reign, the kingdom was divided into 
four parts. He died in 1036, in the 19th year 
of his riegn. 

1036. Harold Harefoot succeeded his father. During 
his reign a cruel act was passed, by which it 
was decreed that if a Welshman should cross 
a certain line, his right hand should be cut off. 
He died April 14th, 1039, in the 4th year of his 
reign. 

1039. Hardicanute succeeded his brother. He 
caused his brother's body to be disinterred and 
thrown into the Thames. A tax was levied, 
which the people refused to pay ; and in some 
places they killed the collectors. He was a 
great glutton and wine-bibber. He died. June 
8tb, 1041. The people afterwards kept that 
day as a time of rejoicing, and styled it hog's 
tide, to commemorate his passion for pork. 
With him ended the reign of the Danes in 
England, which had lasted only 26 years ; 
though they had harassed the kingdom for 240 
years. 

1041. Edward the Confessor succeeded his half- 



14 



1 62 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

brother Hardicanute. He cruelly deprived his 
mother of all her property, and imprisoned 
her. He pretended to be very pious, and the 
vulgar called him saint and confessor, by which 
title the pope canonized him. He died in 1065, 
in the 24th year of his reign. 

1065. Harold II., son of the earl of Goodwin, suc- 
ceeded Edward the Confessor. The duke of 
Normandy, considering himself the rightful 
heir to the throne, gave him battle for the 
crown. The rivalry was decided in a battle at 
Hastings, where the duke gained a complete 
victory, and Harold was slain. Harold reigned 
9 months and 9 days. With him ended the 
Anglo-Saxon reign in England. He was killed 
Oct. 17th, 1065. 

1065. William the Conqueror succeeded Harold, Dec. 
25th. He revived the obnoxious tax of Dane 
gold. He ordered that all fires in houses should 
be extinguished at eight o'clock at night : a 
bell was rung at that hour, called the curfew, 
(from couvre feu, cover fire,) at the sound of 
which the people were obliged, under severe 
penalties, to put out their fires and lights. A 
survey was made of all the lands in England, 
and a catalogue of all the property of every 
kind in the kingdom. Commissioners were 
appointed for the purpose ; and after six years' 
labour they brought him an' exact account. 
This was called Doomsday book, and is still 
preserved. He laid waste the county of Hamp- 
shire, to the extent of thirty miles, for a habita- 



APPENDIX. 163 

A. D. 

tion for wild beasts, which he called the New 
Forest. He first appointed j ustices of the peace, 
and introduced the feudal law. He died Sept. 
9th, 1087, in the 61st year of his age, and in 
the 21st year of his reign in England. 

1087. William II. (surnamed Ruins, or the Red) suc- 
ceeded his father, Sept. 27th, 1087. All histo- 
rians agree in opinion that he was the worst 
king that ever sat upon the throne of England. 
He was killed by Walter Tyrrell, August 3d, 
1100, in the 44th year of his age, and in the 
13th year of his reign, 

1100. Henry I. succeeded his brother, William II., 
August 5th, 1100. During his reign, a charter 
of liberties was granted, and a standard of 
weights and measures fixed. Celibacy was 
established among the clergy. The king sold, 
at a high price, dispensations to the clergy to 
keep their wives. He was said to be the rich- 
est king in Europe at the time of his death. 
He died Dec. 1st, 1133, in the 6Sth year of his 
age, and 34th year of his reign. 

1135. Stephen, son of count Blois, by Adela IV., 
daughter of William the Conqueror, succeeded 
Henry I., in opposition to the rightful heir of 
the crown, Matilda, daughter of Henry I., who 
married G. Piantagenet. Stephen abolished 
the forest laws and the game laws, and revived 
the ancient Saxon laws. A civil war broke 
out, headed by Stephen, on the one side, and 
Henry, son of Matilda, (or Maude,) on the 
other. At length a treaty was concluded, 



164 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

giving the crown to Stephen during his life, 
after which it was to descend to Henry. Ste- 
phen died Oct. 25th, 1154, in the 50th year of 
his age, and the 1 9th year of his reign. 

1 154. Henry II., son of Matilda, daughter of William 
the Conqueror, succeeded Stephen. He was 
the first of the Plantagenets. He was crowned 
Dec. 19. Many of the acts passed by Stephen 
were repealed. In 1172 he conquered Ireland. 
He was said to be the king, the priest, and the 
father of his country, and was one of the most 
illustrious monarchs that ever reigned over 
England. He died July 6, 1189, in the 57th 
year of his age, and 35th of his reign. 

1189. Richard I. succeeded his father, Henry II., and 
was crowned Sept. 3. He was engaged in the 
Crusade, or holy war. He fought a battle near 
Ascalon, in Palestine, against Saladin, the most 
renowned of Saracen kings, who commanded 
300,000 men. Richard's army was much less ; 
yet he gained a complete victory, and slew 
40,000 Turks. He was absent from England 
nearly the whole of his reign. He was a prince 
of great courage and valour, whence he was 
called the Lion Heart. He died April 6, 1199, 
in the 43d year of age, and the 10th of his reign. 

1199. John succeeded his brother Richard, and was 
crowned May 28. He was engaged in con- 
tinual disputes with the barons, who extorted 
from him that immortal instrument, Magna 
Charta, which is to this day the foundation and 
bulwark of English liberty. At the same time 



APPENDIX. 165 

A. D. 

lie gave another called Charta de Foresta. 
Sterling money was first coined in his reign. 
He died Oct. 18, 1216, in the 51st year of his 
age, and the 18th of his reign. 

1216. Henry III. succeeded his father John, and was 
crowned Oct. 28. During his reign, Westmin- 
ster Abbey was built, the king laying the 
corner-stone. In 1253, astronomical tables 
were first made. In 1264, the commons of 
England were first summoned to parliament. 
Henry died Nov. 16, 1272, in the 66th year of 
his age, and the 56th of his reign. 

1272. Edward I. succeeded his father, Henry III. 
Being in the Holy Land at the time of his 
father's death, he was not crowned till August 
19, 1274. During his reign, the quo warranto 
law was passed, and also the mortmain statute. 
By his cunning and valour, he reduced Scot- 
land to the form of an English province ; but 
the Scots soon regained their liberties. He 
died July 7, 1307, in the 68th year of his age, 
and 35th of his reign. Edward was not less 
remarkable for his great civil than his military 
abilities. 

1307. Edward II. succeeded his father, Edward I. 
He was crowned Feb. 24, 1308. He was en- 
tirely unfit to govern, and was swayed by fa- 
vourites, who were very obnoxious to the peo- 
ple. He was dethroned Jan. 20, 1327, in the 
20th year of his reign. 

1327. Edward III. succeeded his father, Edward II. 
He was crowned Jan. 20, 1327. His reign 



166 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

was one of the most glorious in the annals of 
England. While he gained splendid victories 
abroad, England enjoyed domestic tranquillity. 
He took the French king in battle, and received 
for his ransom 3,000,000 crowns. During his 
reign, the knights of the garter were instituted. 
June 8, 1376, his son Edward, prince of Wales, 
died, in the 46th year of his age : he was called 
the Black Prince, from the colour of his ar- 
mour. King Edward III. died June 21, 1377, 
in the 65th year of his age, and the 51st of his 
reign. 

1377. Richard II. succeeded his grandfather, Edward 
III., and was crowned July 16, 1377. He was 
son of the Black Prince. His reign was signal- 
ized by insurrection upon insurrection. His 
army consisted of 300,000 men ; but his uncle, 
the duke of Lancaster, at length entirely defeat- 
ed him, and took him prisoner to London, 
where he signed a paper, by which he ac- 
knowledged himself totally unfit and unworthy 
to govern the kingdom, and delivered to the 
duke of Lancaster the crown and sceptre. He 
was deposed Sept. 30, 1399, in the 22d year of 
his reign. 

1399. Henry IV., the duke of Lancaster, succeeded 
his nephew, Richard II. He was crowned 
Oct. 13, 1399. Parliament passed an act set- 
tling the succession of the crown in the house 
of Lancaster. This produced a great contest 
between the houses of Lancaster and York. 
During his reign, two persons were burnt alive 



APPENDIX. 167 

A. D. 

as heretics, and a great plague happened in 
London, which swept off 30,000 persons. The 
king died March 20, 1413, in the 46th year 
of his age, and 14th of his reign. 

1413. Henry V. succeeded his father, Henry IV., and 
was crowned April 9, 1413. He chose for his 
council the greatest and wisest men of the na- 
tion. He fought a great battle in Normandy 
with the French, and gained a signal victory. 
He then married the daughter of the French 
king, and formed a treaty with him, which 
confirmed the crown of France, after king 
Charles's death, to king Henry and his heirs 
forever. He was pious, temperate, and chaste. 
He died August 31, 1422, in the 31st year of 
his age, and the 10th of his reign. 

1422. Henry VI. succeeded his father, Henry V. 
He was an unfortunate prince, and was twice 
taken prisoner, and at length dethroned. He 
and his queen Margaret reigned 29 years. 
The kingdom was then seized by the earl of 
March/March 5, 1461. 

1461. Edward IV., earl of March, son of Richard, 
duke of York, was proclaimed king March 5, 
1461. His marriage with a daughter of Sir 
Richard Woodville gave great offence to the 
people, and particularly to the earl of Warwick, 
who had negotiated a marriage for him with 
the sister of the queen of the French. War- 
wick determined to depose the king, and raised 
an army of 60,000 men. Edward fled to Hol- 
land. Warwick released Henry from prison, 



168 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

and proclaimed him king. Edward soon re- 
turned with a large army, and regained the 
crown. He died April 9, 1483, in the 42d 
year of his age, and the 23d of his reign. 

1483. Edward V. succeeded his father, Edward IV., 
and was proclaimed king, April 9, 1483. His 
uncle, Richard, duke of Gloucester, deposed 
him, and got himself proclaimed king Jane 
20, 1483. Edward reigned 2 months and 
12 days. 

1483. Richard III., (surnamed Crooked-back,) duke 
of Gloucester, succeeded his nephew, Edward 
V., and was crowned July 6, 1483. He caused 
his nephews to be put to death. Soon after 
an insurrection broke out, and a great battle 
was fought at Bosworth, in Leicestershire, on 
the 22d of April, 1485. The king's troops 
were defeated, and he was slain. He was 
found on the field of battle, naked and bloody ; 
his body was thrown across a horse, with his 
head on one side and his feet on the other, and 
in that condition it was carried into Leicester. 
He was the last of the Plantagenet race, which 
had filled the throne since Henry II. He was 
slain April 22, 1485, after reigning 2 years and 
2 months. 

1485. Henry VII., earl of Richmond, succeeded 
Richard III., and was crowned Oct. 30, 14S5. 
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward 
IV., whom he treated coldly. During his 
reign, the laws were faithfully administered 
He was temperate, chaste, and moral. He 



APPENDIX. 169 

A. D. 

died April 22, 1509, in the 52d year of his age, 
and 24th of his reign. 

1509. Henry VIII. succeeded his father, Henry VII., 
and was crowned June 24, 1509. In him were 
united the two houses of Lancaster and York. 
He married six wives, some of whom were 
beheaded, and others divorced. He quarrelled 
with the pope, and seized upon the church 
property. Parliament declared him to be the 
supreme head of the church. During his reign, 
Ireland was erected into a kingdom. Pie died 
Jan. 29, 1547, in the 56th year of his age, and 
the 38th of his reign. 

1547. Edward VI., son of Henry VIII. and Jane 
Seymour, succeeded his father. He was 
crowned Feb. 20, 1547, when about nine years 
of age. He was a Protestant, and during his 
reign the Protestants were protected. He kept 
a journal of all the transactions of his reign, 
which is preserved in the British Museum. 
He is said to have been a prodigy of learning. 
He died of consumption, July 6, 1553, in the 
lGth year of his age, and the 7th of his reign. 

1553. Mary, daughter of Henry VIII. and Catharine 
of Arragon, succeeded her half-brother, Ed- 
ward VI. The pope's authority was again 
established in England. From the number of 
persons burnt alive for heresy during her reign, 
she acquired the name of bloody Mary. She 
was destitute of every agreeable qualification. 
She died Nov. 17, 1588, in the 43d year of her 
age, and the 6th of her reign. 

■ wi i ii ■■i n— a— r m i iii» i —— mb— — — — aa 

15 



170 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

1558. Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII. and Anne 
Boleyn, succeeded Mary, her half-sister. She 
was crowned Jan. 15, 1559. Several plots 
against the queen's life were hatched, in con- 
sequence of which, a general association was 
formed to protect her, and prosecute to death 
any engaged in those plots. She was the great 
bulwark of the Protestant religion, not only in 
England, but elsewhere. During her reign, 
justice was impartially administered, and eco- 
nomy observed. She was extremely fortunate 
in the selection of her ministry. She built the 
Royal Exchange. She protected trade and 
commerce. She was one of the best English 
sovereigns. She died March 24, 1603, in the 
70th year of her age, and the 45th of her reign. 

1603. James VI. of Scotland, son of Mary, queen of 
Scots, succeeded to the English throne, under 
the name of James I. During his reign, the 
opposition between the king and parliament 
gave rise to the Whig and Tory parties. His 
reign was tranquil ; commerce was prosperous, 
and the people made much progress in ascer- 
taining their rights. Lord Bacon and other 
great literary men flourished at this time. James 
died March 7, 1625, in the 59th year of his 
age, and the 22d of his reign. He was the first 
of the Stuart family that reigned in England. 

1625. Charles Stuart I. succeeded his father, James I., 
and was proclaimed king March 27, 1625. 
He was crowned Feb. 9, 1626. During his 
reign, the opposition between the king and 



APPENDIX. 171 

A. D. 

parliament continued. The king seemed dis- 
posed to assume absolute power; the parlia- 
ment contended for the liberties of the people. 
Charles accused some of the members of parlia- 
ment of high-treason. He went to the house 
of commons with a guard, and entering the 
speaker's chair, made a speech, the members 
crying out, "Privilege, privilege!" Things 
rose to such a height, that both parties resorted 
to arms. The parliament voted to raise an 
army. The king's troops were defeated. 
Charles fled to the Scotch army for protection ; 
but on the 30th of Jan., 1646, he was delivered 
up to the parliament. He was tried by a court 
created for that purpose, and was condemned 
to die. He was beheaded Jan. 30, 1648, in 
the 48th year of his age, and the 23d of his 
reign. 

164S. Commonwealth. The Rump parliament, the 
council of state, and the army now possessed 
the supreme power. On Dec. 16, 1653, Oliver 
Cromwell was made Protector of the Common- 
wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
During his protectorship, the law was wisely 
administered, liberty of conscience was main- 
tained, and the honour of the nation was 
greatly promoted. In 1657, the crown was 
offered him, but he refused it. He died Sept. 
3, 1658, in the fulness of glory and power. 

165S. Richard Cromwell succeeded his father as pro- 
tector. Richard was a weak man. A general 
discontent arose among the people, who seemed 



172 APPENDIX. 

A. D. 

determined to overthrow the Rump parliament. 
Richard was deposed, and the supreme au- 
thority vested in a committee of safety. At 
length, through the influence of general Monk, 
Charles II. was placed on the throne. The 
commonwealth ceased May 29, 1660. 

1660. Charles II. succeeded the commonwealth, May 
29. During his reign, the great act of habeas cor- 
pus was passed, and the writ de haeretico combu- 
rendo was taken away. Sir George Jefferies, 
an inhuman wretch, was made lord chief jus- 
tice of the King's Bench. Charles II. was a 
mere royal debauchee. He died Feb., 1685, 
in the 55th year of his age, and the 25th of his 
reign. 

1685; James II. succeeded his brother Charles, Feb. 
6, 1685. An attempt had been made to ex- 
clude him from the throne, in consequence of 
his being a Roman Catholic. Several insur- 
rections broke out. JefTeries tried the insurgents ; 
after which he boasted that he had hanged 
more men than all the other judges since the 
time of William the Conqueror. Means were 
taken to re-establish popery, and to make the 
king absolute. The people began seriously to 
think of means for preserving their religion and 
liberties. They invited the prince of Orange 
to the throne of England, who accepted the in- 
vitation. James now professed himself willing 
to do any thing to reconcile the people, but it 
was too late. He left Whitehall in disguise, 
and went to France on the 10th of Dec, 1688, 



APPENDIX. 173 

A. D. 

in the 4th year of his reign. This is called the 
Revolution. 

16SS. William and Mary succeeded James II., who 
was Mary's father. They were crowned 
April 1, 16S9. During their reign, the Bill of 
Rights and Accession was passed, with a clause 
forever excluding Papists and persons marry- 
ing Papists from inheriting the crown of Eng- 
land. July 1, 1690, the memorable battle of 
the Boyne was fought, when William gained 
a complete victory. Dec. 28, 1694, queen 
Mary died, in the 33d year of her age. Wil- 
liam died March 8, 1702, in the 52d year of his 
age, and the 14th of his reign. 

1702. Anne, sister to Mary, the wife of William, was 
declared queen March 8, 1702. She was the 
glory and happiness of her people, and was 
remarkable for her piety and charity. She 
died August 1, 1714, in the 50th year of her 
age, and the 13th of her reign. 

1714. George I., great-grandson to James I., suc- 
ceeded Anne. He was crowned Oct. 20, 1714. 
It is said that when George I. came to the throne, 
he could not speak one word of English. With 
him began the reign of the house of Hanover. 
In this reign, the South Sea scheme was pro- 
jected, and the nation turned stockjobbers. The 
stock rose as high as 1200, and then fell to 
nothing. Many families were ruined, and a 
few were enriched. The directors were pu- 
nished, and their estates were sold for the benefit 
of the sufferers. A great effort was made to 



174 APPENDIX. 



D. 



place the pretender, son of James II., upon the 
throne ; but the attempt was signally defeated. 
George I. died June 11, 1727, in the 68th year 
of his age, and the 23d of his reign. During 
his reign, many distinguished literary persons 
flourished. 

1727. George II. succeeded his father, George I. 
He was proclaimed king June 15, 1727, and 
crowned Oct. 11, 1727. No changes were 
made in the great offices of state. A statute 
was passed, forbidding the subjects of England 
to lend money to any foreign power without 
the consent of the king ; and all law proceed- 
ings were ordered to be in English instead of 
Latin. The son of the pretender now resolved 
to place his father upon the throne, and being 
supplied with men and money by France, he 
landed in England, and met with some success. 
But he was at length entirely defeated. He 
narrowly escaped being taken. He fled to the 
woods, and lived in solitude for some time, 
when he escaped to France. In May, 1751, 
the old style was abolished, and the new style 
established. During the reign of George II., 
the powers of the mind were freely exercised, 
and many great men flourished. He died sud- 
denly, Oct. 23, 1760, in the 77th year of his 
age, and the 33d of his reign. 

17G0. George III., son to Frederick, prince of Wales, 
succeeded his grandfather, George II. He was 
proclaimed king Oct. 26, 1760. During his 
reign, a war broke out between England and 



APPENDIX. 175 

A. D. 

her colonies in America. The first battles 
were those of Lexington and Concord. The 
last battle was that of Yorktown, fought Oct. 
19,1781. This war was called the seven years' 
war. A treaty of peace between the two 
countries was concluded at Paris, Nov. 30, 
1782, and Great Britain acknowledged the 
colonies to be free and independent states. 
King George III. had several attacks of mental 
derangement, one of which occurred in 1810, 
when the prince of Wales was created regent. 
George continued insane until his death, which 
took place in 1820, in the 82d year of his age, 
and the 61st of his reign. 

1820. George IV. succeeded his father as king, in 
1820. His inhuman conduct towards his 
queen produced throughout the kingdom a feel- 
ing of indignation, which subsided only with 
her death. His course of life was profligate. 
During his regency, Great Britain combated 
the power of Bonaparte, and, aided by the 
other kingdoms of Europe, finally succeeded 
in overthrowing that famous conqueror. George 
IV. died in 1830, in the 6Sth year of his age, 
and the 10th of his reign. 

1830. William IV. succeeded his brother, George IV., 
aud was crowned in 1830. The principal 
event in his reign was the passage of the Re- 
form Bill. He died in 1837, in the 72d year 
of his age, and the 7th of his reign. 

1837. Victoria succeeded her uncle, William IV. 
She was crowned in IS 37, at the age of 18 



176 APPENDIX. 



A. 



years. In 1840, she married Albert, prince of 
Saxe-Cobourg. In the same year, an unjus- 
tifiable war was commenced against China, 
which was finally concluded by the cession of 
several important posts to the English. In 
1842, the British army in Afghanistan was 
almost annihilated. In 1843, the leading minis- 
ters of the Kirk of Scotland seceded from it, on 
account of the interference of the secular power 
with the spiritual government of the church. 



A TABLE 






OF DISTINGUISHED PERSONS. 




Born. 


Died. 




John Wickliffe, 1324 


1384 




Christopher Columbus, - 1442 


1506 




Martin Luther, 1483 


1546 




Dudley, 1502 


1553 




John Calvin, - July 10, 1509 


May 27, 1564 




Sir Francis Drake, - 1545 


1595 




Sidney, earl of Godolphin, - - -1554 


1586 




Francis Bacon, - Jan. 22, 1561 


April 9, 1626 




Villiers, first duke of Buckingham, - 1592 


1628 




Shakspeare, ------ 1564 


1616 




Ben Jonson, ----- 1574 


1637 




Monk, duke of Albemarle, - - -1608 


1670 




John Milton, - - - - Dec. 9, 1608 


Nov. 10, 1674 




C. Stanley, earl of Derby, - - -1644 


1678 




Roger Boyle, earl of Orrery, - - 1621 


1679 




Cooper, earl of Shaftsbury, - # July 22, 1621 


Jan. 1682 




Lord North, - - - ' - - 1640 


1685 




Butler, duke of Ormond, - - -1610 


1688 




John Bunyan, 1628 


1688 




George Fox, founder of the Quakers, - 1624 


1690 






1690 




Tillotson, Oct. 1630 


1694 




Dr. J. Spencer, 1630 


1695 




Sir William Temple, - 1628 


1700 




John Locke, - 1632 


1704 




Hyde, eaVl of Clarendon, - 1638 


1709 




Harley, earl of Oxford, - 1661 


May 8, 1711 




Joseph Addison, - - - May 1, 1672 


Jan. 17, 1719 




Matthew Prior, 1664 


1721 




Churchill, duke of Marlborough, - -1650 


June 16, 1722 




Sir Isaac Newton, - - - - 1642 


1727 




Steele, ------- 


1729 





177 



178 



APPENDIX. 



Born. 
Francis Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, 1 662 
Sir William Windham, - - - 1713 
Alexander Pope, ----- 1688 
Sir Robert Walpole, - - - - 1676 

Dean Swift, 1667 

Dr. Isaac Watts, - - July 17, 1674 

Lord Bolingbroke, ----- 1672 
Horatio Lord Walpole, - - 1678 

Edward Young, - - - - - 1681 
George Whitefield, - - Dec. 16, 1714 
John Lord Hervey, - - - - 

Captain James Cook,- - Oct. 27, 1728 

David Hume, 1711 

Sir William Blackstone, - - - 1723 
William Pitt, earl of Chatham, - - 1708 

John Howard, 1726 

Dr. Samuel Johnson, - 1709 

Sir William Jones, - 1746 

John Wesley, - - - - - 1703 

Charles Pratt, earl of Camden, - - 1713 

Edmund Burke, 1730 

Earl Richard Howe, admiral, - - 1725 
Dr. Hugh Blair, - - April 7, 1718 
William Pitt, son of the earl of Chatham, 1759 
Dr. Thomas Percival, - - - 1740 
Herschell, 1738 



Died. 
1731 
1740 
1744 
1745 
1745 
1748 
1751 
1757 
1765 

Sept. 30, 1770 
1779 

Feb. 14, 1779 
1776 

Feb. 14, 1780 
1778 

Jan. 20, 1790 

Dec. 13, 1784 
1794 
1791 
1794 
July 8, 1797 
1799 

Dec. 27, 1800 
1806 
1804 
1822 



COMLYS SPELLING BOOK, 

BONSAL'S EDITION. 

CERTIFICATE. 

The School Book entitled " Comly's Spelling and 
Reading Book," " Bonsai's edition," is published by 
Thomas L. Bonsai, with my consent, and it is the 
only work of the kind now published under my 
name, with my approbation, or for which I receive 
any compensation. JOHN COMLY. 

By berry, 1st mo. 23d, 1842. 



This is the title of a greatly improved edition of 
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179 



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N. B. Ask for Bonsai's edition of Comly's Spell- 



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